Boost for Hearts' Euro hopes as Michael Stewart returns

HEARTS' European aspirations will receive a timely boost this week when club captain Michael Stewart returns to training with the hope of facing Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

A calf injury has precluded the midfielder since the victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie on 27 February, however he is now set to rejoin training in time for the post-split SPL fixtures.

Algerian international centre-back Ismael Bouzid will also be in contention this weekend provided he comes through unscathed from tomorrow's closed-door friendly with Falkirk at Riccarton.

"Michael should train at some point this week, whether it's today or not I'm not sure," said manager Jim Jefferies, speaking this morning. "We have another closed-door game tomorrow against Falkirk, mainly for Ismael's benefit and for those who have been out injured. That will help us."

Jefferies expects Jason Thomson to recover from illness but Jose Goncalves, Gary Glen and goalkeepers Marian Kello and Janos Balogh remain sidelined. The manager was today awaiting a confirmed diagnosis of the thigh injury sustained by Andy Driver at the weekend.

"We just have to hope it's a strain and not a tear. If it's a strain it's not so bad. The positive is that it's not the knee," he said. "Gary Glen has a hamstring problem so he will still be doubtful for Sunday. Jose is still having trouble with his knee so he'll still be unavailable for the next couple of weeks."

Jefferies stated in the aftermath of Saturday's defeat of Kilmarnock that Hearts would now begin pursuing teams above them in the SPL and has not dismissed the possibility of overhauling both Motherwell and Hibs to secure fourth place and a lucrative Europa League spot.

After Sunday's trip to Glasgow, Hearts welcome Motherwell to Tynecastle before visiting Easter Road for the season's final Edinburgh derby on Saturday, 1 May. They complete the campaign with two home fixtures against Dundee United, on Wednesday, 5 May and Celtic on Sunday, 9 May.