Hearts v Dundee United: Injury-hit Hearts could be forced to field flagging European team

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies admits he has little option but to deploy the core of players that were involved in Europa League action on Thursday night for tomorrow's first SPL game of the season at Tynecastle against Dundee United.

A dilemma that was prevalent during Jefferies first reign at the Tynecastle helm has resurfaced as he ponders over whether to freshen up a leg-weary team following their European exertions.

The squad was given yesterday off after touching down at Edinburgh airport at 3:30am on Friday morning.

History tells the experienced coach he should tinker with the starting XI that fought back to score an away goal in the third qualifying round first leg 1-1 draw to Paksi in Hungary. However, a lengthy injury list offers little room to manoeuvre.

Jefferies will be forced into making at least one change for the United clash with the midweek goal hero, Jamie Hamill - who converted a penalty in first half stoppage time to nullify Istvan Sipeki's strike - serving the final game of a two match suspension.

Late checks will be made on defender Andy Webster and midfielder Mehdi Taouil after the groin injuries they sustained in last Saturday's draw with Rangers in the opening day of the season prevented the pair from playing in Hungary.

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Then there are the unavailable long-term absentees, Kevin Kyle, Andy Driver, Calum Elliot, Suso Santana and Gary Glen.

"You have to handle this side of things with the European games in between," said Jefferies, whose side host Paksi in the second leg on Thursday.

"You would like to have all your squad, that's the one thing.

"You look and say you'll learn from the past and you'll go and try and freshen it up but with the injuries we've got at the moment, it's not easy to do that.

"We'll have to get by, hopefully a few more get fit and we can have that balance that the changes we make don't weaken the side in any way. It's a very strong squad when everyone is fit."

A testing and tiring start to the season took Hearts to Ibrox, the home of the reigning SPL champions, last weekend - where they picked up a thoroughly deserved draw - before jetting out to Budapest.

Jefferies reckons tomorrow's opponents will be the biggest threat in their bid to at least match last season's feat of finishing third in the top-flight, even though the Tannadice club have lost the likes of Prince Buaben, Morgaro Gomis and Craig Conway this summer.

He added: "Dundee United have shown, with the players they've lost, that they're acquitting themselves well.

"Dundee United are the main challengers for third place and I don't think that will change this year.

"I think they'll be up there.They've got a good squad of players, they have brought in players that are similar in terms of style so this will be a tough match on Sunday for both teams."

Jefferies, meanwhile, insists he appreciates why United counterpart Peter Houston wants sought-after striker David Goodwillie to head south instead of Rangers. The Ibrox club have so far failed with bids for the player who is set to join Blackburn Rovers in a 2.8m deal.

Jefferies is a veteran when it comes to losing players to Rangers after seeing Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith leave for Ibrox when he was at Kilmarnock, while Lee Wallace quit Tynecastle for Govan just last week.

He added: "I can understand if Peter wanted him to move to England because then they don't come back to haunt you. I've had it with Boyd and Naismith.

"There was also an English Premier League side after Lee Wallace and everyone was saying for us it would have been better if he went there. But they didn't want him badly enough and Rangers did.

"David is a really talented boy and there is talk he might not play on Sunday because he might be heading away and that's not surprising because he is quality."

Midfielder Ian Black, meanwhile, is looking forward to home comforts tomorrow following a difficult and exhausting start to the season.

Black said: "It will be brilliant to be back at Tynecastle on Sunday in front of our home fans.

"It's been a tough start to the season for us.

"But we'll have a full house against United and we're playing well right now.

"Everyone's enjoying it so we want to put on a show for the supporters on Sunday."