Hearts work to help Driver's England cause

Published on Tuesday 19 May 2009 09:42

HEARTS are hoping Andy Driver's call-up to the England Under-21 squad is not ruined by injury with club medics working to cure the nerve problem which has precluded him from the last two matches.

Stuart Pearce, England's Under-21 coach, has included Driver in a provisional squad for the friendly against Azerbaijan on Monday, June 8, in Milton Keynes.

A place in the final group – expected to be named at the end of May – would represent the winger's first England call-up but Hearts harbour doubts over his fitness.

Nerves stretching between his back and hamstring are causing pain, making him doubtful for this weekend's visit to Celtic. He missed last week's draw at Aberdeen as well as Saturday's victory over Dundee United with the complaint yet to fully subside.

Manager Csaba Laszlo is keen for Driver to receive international recognition from his birth country but stressed today that he must be fully fit to join up with England.

"I know about the report that he will be selected for England, but maybe he can't play," said the Hungarian.

"He told me if he had an injection he could play (against Dundee United], but that was a risk in case he has a rupture.

"The doctors say with focused treatment maybe he can possibly play against Celtic but I won't risk him. If he can achieve football at national level, I think for this club it's a great opportunity. I expect him to be in the England squad if he feels okay this time next week."

Capping Driver at Under-21 level would threaten him representing Scotland in future were FIFA's international body to agree to a rule change concerning eligibility.

The Scottish Football Association has proposed that footballers should be able to play for any nation in which they have had five years' schooling – Driver moved to Scotland aged 11 – however the suggestion has yet to be implemented.

Meanwhile, Laszlo has been credited with an interest in Darlington striker Pawel Abbott, who has scored eight goals in 18 games this season and is out of contract next month.

Reports south of the Border claim the 27-year-old has received advances from Hearts.