Locke looks to Hamill

Gary Locke could welcome a familiar face back into his Hearts side for this weekend's Aberdeen match, in the form of Jamie Hamill.

The versatile midfielder has missed the last eleven months through a cruciate knee ligament injury but is now on the verge of a first-team comeback.

Speaking to the press this morning at Riccarton, Gary said: "Jamie Hamill's come through two U20 games. He's played 60 minutes in one and 75 in the other and he looks really good.

"The problem we've had with the weather is that these games have been off recently, so he has been training for a number of weeks. He'll certainly come into contention, especially for the squad this weekend."

The new Gorgie gaffer knows only too well the agony that Jamie has experienced the past year, having suffered his own lengthy lay-offs during his time as a player at Tynecastle.

"Without a doubt, I know exactly what he's going through," he said. "Unfortunately for me I've been in the same position. He's come back and trained for about two or three months.

"He's had a couple of wee niggles, which you're going to get when you've been out as long as he has, but he's kept his head down and worked really hard.

"Hopefully he'll get his rewards by the end of the season in terms of a few first-team games."

Though the former Scotland U21 star may feature this weekend, a fellow international alumni looks set to sit out the trip to Pittodrie. Mark Ridgers is struggling with illness, which means that Scotland U19s cap Jack Hamilton could make the trip north.

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