Hearts star Stewart: I'll be ready for the derby

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 08:51

MICHAEL STEWART expects to be fit for the Edinburgh derby after being forced to sit out the defeat by Motherwell last weekend with an ankle injury.

The Hearts midfielder was hoping to return to training today for the first time in a fortnight after playing through the pain barrier against Falkirk in the SPL and Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-finals.

He said: "I'll hopefully be back in training today or tomorrow.

"I missed out on Saturday because that would have been three games in a week on an ankle that wasn't 100 per cent.

"I didn't want to get into a cycle where I was playing but not training and obviously from Wednesday night to Saturday's game was a day less for me than from the Falkirk game through to the Celtic game. I was struggling and I couldn't run properly and we thought it was best all round if I was rested it."

Stewart insists the Hearts players must take on more responsibility against Hibs on Saturday – and reckons the Tynecastle side must follow their opposition's lead by taking advantage of any breaks that come their way.

He added: "The onus is on us now to try to pull our socks up and start doing better than we have been. Too many of us are just drifting and not pushing the boundaries. That can happen when things have not been going your way. It's important we all take responsibility and that the eleven guys who go out there on Saturday watch each other's backs.

"Hibs are second in the league, they've had a good run and a big part of this sport is when you build up momentum, then the confidence flows and everything seems possible. I've not seen them this season but I am sure they've maybe had a slice of luck here or there and when that has happened they have been able to capitalise.

"On the flip side, we've maybe fallen on the wrong side of a bit of luck here and there, lost late goals and when we have had a slice of luck we've not been able to capitalise. All of a sudden all of these wee things become form and they affect people's mentality."

Meanwhile, Hibs skipper Chris Hogg warned team-mates that they can't afford to write Hearts off, despite their disappointing start to the season.

Hogg said: "We've won at Tynecastle before and know what it takes but we're not kidding ourselves we'll turn up and take the points because we've been on an okay run. A wounded animal is always the worst and I think Hearts are that this weekend.

"We've given ourselves a platform to build on and need to keep doing it, there's no use doing it for ten games and then dropping off.