Hearts' Webster keen to shake off injured tag

Webster looked strong at the club's training camp in Italy last week and emerged from the cross-continent trip without any ailments or injuries.

When Hearts prepare to face East Fife in a friendly at Methil tonight, Webster will take his first steps on home soil towards a niggle-free campaign.

He said: "The first thing that's always said is: 'Injury-prone Andy Webster'. But there's nothing I can do if that's the way people want to portray me. You just get on with it.

"No-one wants to be injured or spend time on the sidelines or have operations.

"I'd never had an injury until I joined Rangers. Then I had a period where I had operations and niggles. You just need to deal with it - there's no other way."

Webster, who rejoined Hearts in February on a two-and-a-half-year deal, has played fewer than 50 league games at various clubs in the past five years but is focused on what he can achieve this term and beyond.

"I just know what I've got to do and my focus isn't on what's being said about me," said the 29-year-old. "It's all about from now on and taking it from here."

Meanwhile, Jambos legend John Robertson, manager of East Fife, says new Tynecastle striker John Sutton will prove to be the ideal replacement for the injured Kevin Kyle. Robertson said: "John is more than just a target man. He also has good movement, good touch and links the play well.

"I think he's also more of an out-and-out scorer than Kyle. I'm sure he'll cause us problems."