Hearts to lose Ian Black for two games as ban looms

Hearts have been dealt a blow with the news that midfielder Ian Black has been hit with a two-match ban.

The 25-year-old picked up the suspension when he went over the SFA's disciplinary points barrier with his seventh booking of the season in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Hamilton.

The combative former Inverness Caley Thistle player, who was also banned last season, was heavily criticised by Nikica Jelavic earlier in the season when his tackle ruled the Rangers striker out for over three months.

He was also substituted at half-time by manager Jim Jefferies during the Tynecastle side's recent 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox as fears grew that the Scotland B cap could be sent-off following a caution.

Black is available for Saturday's visit of Dundee United but will now be forced to sit out the trip to face Aberdeen on 26 February and the following weekend's home meeting with Kilmarnock.

Jefferies has told his squad they will all play their part as the Tynecastle side continue their march towards third place. He freshened up his team again for Saturday's win at Hamilton with Ismael Bouzid making way for new signing Andy Webster and Adrian Mrowiec also dropping to the bench.

Jefferies has been delighted with the strength and depth of his pool this season, a benefit reinforced by the fact he was able to call on substitutes Andy Driver and David Templeton in the second half. And despite the fact Hearts were suffering a striker crisis heading to New Douglas Park with Kevin Kyle, Calum Elliot and David Obua all out injured, the Gorgie outfit still managed to open up a 15 point gap on fourth place Kilmarnock courtesy of Stephen Elliott's brace

Jefferies said: "It's a long season and I told the players I could look at any team out of the squad and it would not be any weaker than the other.

"We had a bit of a freshness so that showed that whatever team I put out, it does not weaken it in anyway.

"It's a good thing and it means they just have to accept that this is a big pool, a strong pool and not everyone can play all the games.

"Some of the guys we left out against Hamilton have been playing a lot of games and a little freshness helps."

Meanwhile, former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart has been given fresh hope of landing a deal at Championship side Leeds United after his trial was extended to a second week. The Scotland cap is looking to kick-start his career back in England after negotiating his release from Genclerbirligi last month when the Turkish club refused to pay his wages for the time he was sidelined with an ankle injury.