HEARTS were yesterday handed a timely boost after long-term injury absentee Robbie Neilson returned to training.
The 28-year-old former Scotland international has failed to kick a competitive ball this term following surgery on his ankle in pre-season.
But Neilson, who last featured for Hearts on 5 April, has been making steady progress and took his rehab a
further step forward when he began running again.
The defender was put through his paces at the club's Riccarton training base and providing he suffers no reaction will continue to improve his strength as he eyes a first-team return perhaps even next month.
The news is a lift for manager Csaba Laszlo following back-to-back SPL defeats that have seen Hearts slip to fifth place ahead of the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road on 19 October.
Neilson, however, faces a battle to regain his place with both Jason Thomson and Eggert Jonsson deputising at right-back in his absence.
Laszlo, meanwhile, has refused to rule out signing former Tynecastle full-back Alan Maybury.
However, the Hungarian admits he is unable to act in the transfer market until he discusses plans for the January transfer window with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.
The unattached Maybury has been training with Hearts to keep up his fitness and the Irishman claims he would love to sign for the club again.
But Laszlo said: "At the moment, it is not a question for me whether Alan will come in the team or not.
"Maybe in the winter break, when the transfer window is open, we will see what we can do. We must have a concrete plan and this plan must be between me and the club. The owner and the club must make a decision so I'm not thinking about this."
Maybury spent the second half of last season at Aberdeen after leaving Leicester.
But the 30-year-old did not take up a longer-term offer from the Dons as he wanted to return to England. However, he arranged to train with his former club after a move to Crystal Palace fell through.
"I loved my time at Hearts and to go back would be great," said Maybury. "My agent is speaking to a few other clubs at the same time. I need to keep my fitness up until someone says 'you'll do for me'."
The full article contains 404 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
