Hearts hope Zaliukas fit for Hamilton clash

HEARTS are hoping Marius Zaliukas recovers from injury in time to face Hamilton this weekend after the club captain withdrew from last night's international friendly between Lithuania and Hungary.

Zaliukas contacted Lithuania's national coach, Raimondas Zutautas, to inform him he would not fly to Szkesfehrvr for the game on medical advice. Reports in Lithuania suggested he suffered a head knock playing for Hearts at McDiarmid Park on Saturday and Zutautas told the Evening News he was disappointed not to have the centre-back available.

Hearts will now assess Zaliukas' condition ahead of Saturday's SPL encounter, with medical staff hopeful he will be able to participate.

Arvydas Novikovas won his second full international cap by playing 81 minutes of last night's match, which Lithuania lost 2-0. After leaving Zaliukas out of last month's European Championship qualifier with Spain due to lack of match practice, Zutautas lamented the fact he must wait until next year to see the player in action for his country.

"He just told me that he got an injury and he has some pain. I don't know anything more," said Zutautas. "I want to see him play and last night was a good opportunity for him. He did not come so of course I'm disappointed. I wanted to see how he did and now I need to wait half a year to see him."

Zutautas offered praise for Novikovas, however. The Hearts winger has hitherto been a peripheral figure at club level this season but his national coach believes he should be utilised more. "He is young and he has talent. The last time he played was two months ago so it was good for him to play for us and to show his coach in Scotland that he is the best player in his position," said Zutautas.

The only other Hearts player involved in the midweek senior internationals was Eggert Jonsson, who played in Iceland's 3-2 friendly defeat by Israel in Tel Aviv. Craig Thomson started for Scotland Under-21s at Firhill as they beat Northern Ireland 3-1.

Lee Wallace, who missed out for Scotland against the Faroes this week due to injury, is hoping to return for Hearts in the next Capital derby.

"At the moment I would say I'm looking at another six or seven weeks - but it's a huge incentive to be back for the New Year game against Hibs at Tynecastle," said Wallace.