Hearts striking duo back in training before Celtic trip

The Tynecastle manager expects to have Stephen Elliot and Calum Elliot back in training in the next day or two, while Andrew Driver should return to full sessions next week.

The Oldham-born winger will not play any part at Parkhead, but the two strikers could still come into the frame for a place in the starting line-up.

David Obua has featured just once for Hearts this season, though he played and scored for Uganda in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola on Friday night and Jefferies is hoping he will return unscathed and ready to be thrown straight into the mix against Neil Lennon's men.

Gary Glen was also expected to play some part in a closed-doors game against Dunfermline today and Jefferies said: "Things are starting to clear up and everyone is on the mend.

"Andrew Driver won't make the Celtic match as he will only do the warm-ups with us before joining in properly next week.

"Stephen Elliott and Calum Elliot will hopefully train later this week and after that I will have a better idea regarding the Celtic game.

"It was good to hear that David Obua played well and scored for Uganda and he will have benefited from that match time.

"Lee Wallace has also improved so things are looking up on the injury front for sure.

"We still have a few boys away on international duty and hopefully they come through unscathed. It won't be long before we have everyone available again and that's a real positive for me."

Meanwhile, Vladimir Romanov has reportedly confirmed that former Hearts hero Rudi Skacel has been in Lithuania for talks on a possible return after being freed by Greek club Larissa.

But Romanov also apparently linked him to the so-called Riccarton Three revolt involving Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon.

The Hearts owner is reported to have said: "It is interesting now to recollect those who, four year ago, seduced the guys for betrayal who, as Skacel says, put pressure on the players.

"I pity the boys Webster, Pressley, Hartley and particularly Skacel. These players did not find permanent clubs. I believe today it is clear they wasted their best years."

Skacel followed former Tynecastle boss George Burley to Southampton in a 1.6 million deal in 2006.