Hearts trio to miss trip to Dingwall

HEARTS boss Craig Levein is set to go into tonight's friendly at Ross County missing a trio of top-team stars.

The Jambos head north to Dingwall to take on Alex Smith’s outfit just three days after their 1-1 draw with Airdrie at New Broomfield.

But Levein will be forced to field an under-strength side with goalkeeper Craig Gordon, striker Mark de Vries and centre half Andy Webster all sidelined.

Although Dutchman De Vries is recovering from his hamstring strain, he will not make the trip to Victoria Park, Levein instead pencilling him in for this weekend’s glamour friendly against Fulham at Tynecastle.

Gordon is also on the mend after suffering a recurrence of a thigh strain but he is not expected to return to training until tomorrow.

Webster tweaked a hamstring in training and will also sit out this evening’s encounter with the Scotland man hoping to be fit for Saturday. New signing Ramon Pereira will feature.

Meanwhile, Levein’s bid to bring Michael Stewart to Tynecastle on loan remains in limbo.

Wages remain a major stumbling block with Hearts unable to pay them.

In a move totally unrelated to the Stewart saga, United have paid 50,000 in compensation to Hearts after swooping for 16-year-old Gorgie starlet David Gray.