Beattie adds to striking dilemma for Sergio

HEARTS' attack is giving Paulo Sergio cause for concern it would appear.

The Tynecastle manager yesterday admitted that striker Craig Beattie is a major doubt for Saturday's Scottish Cup final.

The former Celtic, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City forward – who scored the winner from the penalty spot in the semi-final victory over Celtic– has been nursing a hamstring strain that forced him off after just 30 minutes in the 2-2 draw at Dundee United in April and was due to return to training last Wednesday. However, the Portuguese coach confessed that the 28-year-old faces a race against time to be fit for the Hampden showdown.

With Hearts shy of experienced attackers, Sergio refused to even name striker Stephen Elliott in the squad for Sunday's final game of the season at Celtic. The manager, who also rested Ian Black at Parkhead due to the midfielder's ongoing hernia problem, said: "I rested Elliott because I need to save an experienced striker for the cup final, I don't want to take any risks. I don't know if I'm going to have Beattie."

Six places and 19 points ultimately separated Hearts and Hibs this season, but Paul Hartley was quick to point out yesterday the folly of presuming anything when it comes to a Scottish Cup final. Hartley is refusing to believe any talk of his old team having one hand on the trophy and insisted the scare that Hearts survived against Gretna in the 2006 final was a lesson worth recalling.

"We said that when we went into the game against Gretna that the pressure was on us to win," said Hartley. "They were massive underdogs [having just won promotion from the second division] and everyone expected us to win. We were fortunate to win the cup. Hearts are big, big favourites, but in a cup final that counts for nothing. Form goes out the window. It could be anything that wins it, a piece of magic, a bit of luck . . . It's got the making of a magnificent atmosphere and both teams will be really nervous."

Rudi Skacel is the only survivor of the team that lifted silverware six years ago and Hartley insists the Czech is the most likely game-winner along with Hibs' Garry O'Connor and Leigh Griffiths.

"Skacel is a big game player and he showed you in the semi-final win what he is all about," said Hartley. "He is the top goal scorer from midfielder. For Hibs, Griffiths and O'Connor will be key figures. That's where it could be won, Skacel and O'Connor."

Taken from the Herald