Fearless Ruben Palazuelos insists Hearts are no longer content to go to Parkhead ready to settle for a draw

THE days of travelling to Celtic and playing for a draw are over for Hearts, according to Ruben Palazuelos. Jim Jefferies' team will be without the injured Lee Wallace and Marius Zaliukas, but the Spanish midfielder believes those losses will not affect their confidence.

"Celtic is a very different team now compared to three or four years ago, when they were much stronger," said Palazuelos, who may have to deputise for Wallace at left-back. "This has happened to a lot of teams in a lot of countries, because the money has fallen.

"This game gives us a very good chance, then, to go there and get all three points. All we have to do is play as we have been playing. We've had some very good moments in our first three games, even though we've only got five points, so we go there not feeling scared.

"We're going to Celtic to attack and take the three points. Maybe before, we would go there and think it was good to take a point from Celtic. They were a stronger team. "

Palazuelos takes heart from having been on the winning side at Parkhead a couple of times in recent years, and, while he knows the Glasgow ground can be intimidating for visiting teams, he does not think it compares to some of the venues he played at while in Greece. "I played in the League Cup win at Celtic Park last season, and I was also there when we won with (Andrius] Velicka's two goals a few years ago," he said. "So it won't be the first time we've won.

"Those examples give us encouragement. We've won there before, we've played good football, so we have to follow that lead. We can't be scared. We have to look to create chances. As a professional footballer, I'll never be scared.

"This is my life. It doesn't matter if I play against Real Madrid, I can't be scared.

"Celtic Park is tough, but in Greece I've played against Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. Those fans are much more crazy.

"Here it's a little bit quiet, which is better for the players. In Greece, if we lost two or three games, we would have to stay in all day to avoid the fans."

Though more at home as a holding midfielder, Palazuelos has no worries about playing at left-back if asked. "It's very bad news about Lee and we all just hope he comes back as soon as possible. I can play in his position, I've played there before, and it's a decision for the manager. I'll do whatever is needed for the team and we'll see what happens on Saturday.

"I actually feel very comfortable at left-back, because when I have the ball,no-one is pressing me and I have a lot of space in front of me. It's not difficult to play there. I just hope I'm right about that if I play there on Saturday.

"Last year I played my first game there, against St Mirren at home, and we won 1-0. After that I played another three or four games in that position. I felt comfortable, even though I am more at home in my central midfield position. But, for the team, I can play anywhere. Of course we have a lot of competition in central midfield and I would prefer to play there. But, if I have a chance to play, I will play at left-back - it's better than not playing."

Meanwhile, Hearts defender Lee Wallace is targeting a swift return to action following his serious knee injury.

It was feared Wallace would be out for six months after suffering a torn posterior cruciate ligament in Scotland's 2-1 defeat of Liechtenstein on Tuesday night. However, it emerged on Thursday that the 23-year-old may not require surgery and could return in three months.

The new prognosis is still to be confirmed by a specialist, but Wallace is determined to work hard on his rehabilitation and is optimistic he can be back sooner than anticipated.

The left-back told Hearts News: "I feared the worst after the tackle as I usually get back up from those types of challenges. I knew something was up as I tried to flex my knee and the muscle just seemed to keep seizing up.

"The scan results weren't great and the doc said it was bad news as soon as I came out. He showed me the pictures on the screen and explained what had happened. When I was told it was going to be five or six months it was obviously a bit of a shock. Then I spoke to our physio Rob Marshall at the academy and he told me the good news. When he told me my heart started pumping.

"Three months is still a long time to be out but it is such a big difference compared to the six months they were talking about. They have told me 10 to 12 weeks and I've never been out for that length of time before but I'm determined to work hard and come back sooner than that. I want to come back better, stronger and faster."

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov telephone the player to offer his support. "It was a nice gesture from Mr Romanov and I certainly wasn't expecting to hear frpm him," said Wallace. "He wanted to pass on his best wishes for my recovery and just told me to work hard on my rehabilitation."