Jefferies forced into fielding Jose Goncalves due to desperate situation

Unless Goncalves signs a new contract with Hearts – his current deal runs out at the end of this season – then it could turn out his return after more than two months on the sidelines for the 1-0 defeat against Dundee United yesterday was very much a one-off, designed to alleviate continued injury and suspension troubles at Tynecastle. Vladimir Romanov, the club owner, was informed of Jefferies' intention to play Goncalves by Hearts sports director Aleksandr Metlitski. Romanov has been angered by the player's continued contract brush-offs, but, according to Jefferies yesterday, "everybody understands it was a necessity (to play him] because of the injuries".

The Portuguese internationalist played solidly on an afternoon when Hearts lost a further two players to injury. The current absentee list stands at 14, following the loss of skipper Michael Stewart to a calf strain in the warm-up yesterday. Paul Mulrooney was drafted into the team from the bench but, perhaps predictably, did not survive the 90 minutes. He was replaced with ten minutes left due to cramp. By this time Hearts had already fallen behind to Morgaro Gomis' deflected winner. The midfielder's strike, with 12 minutes left, lifts United into third place in the Scottish Premier League, where they stand one point ahead of Hibernian.

But the main talking point afterwards at Tannadice Park was the return of Goncalves for his first start for Hearts since 30 December, against Motherwell. Jefferies revealed the defender probably should not have played yesterday due to a knock. "I went to him and said: 'we are under the cosh, do you fancy it?'," explained Jefferies. Goncalves was only meant to feature for the first hour but due to injuries to others was forced to last the whole game. Whether this gains him favour with Hearts remains to be seen. Christian Nade, who is the subject of an internal disciplinary procedure at the club, was also pushed into the fray. He came off the bench at half-time to make his first appearance since a game against Celtic last month, after which he was alleged to have clashed with team-mate Ian Black.

But Goncalves' participation yesterday was the biggest shock and Jefferies put it down to a simple case of needs must.

"If he had not have played today then God knows who would have played (at centre-half]," he said. "Perhaps Jason Thomson, but then we would have had the problem of finding another right-back to put up against Craig Conway.

"I report to a sporting director (Metlitski]," added Jefferies. "I told him the situation regarding the need to play him. He agreed. Everybody understands it was a necessity today because of the injuries. It was convincing Jose to play today because he has been out that long, and is only just coming back from injury. If I had someone else he would not have played today. He did well to get through the game, especially a game up here."

Goncalves remains in discussions with the club although Jefferies admitted he remains perplexed as to the reasons why he has not signed what the manager again referred to as an "outstanding" offer. "If he does not take it that is down to him," said Jefferies. "If he does not take it then I have to surmise he does not want to be here. That is what I have said all along. I will only concentrate on players who want to be here. I hope he changes his mind because I want him to stay."

United welcomed back a returning player yesterday too, with Fran Sandaza used as a late substitute following a long lay-off after a double hernia operation. It was a satisfying day for the Tannadice club, who now seek to maintain their hold on third place.

"I am not looking at that just now," said manager Peter Houston. "Ask me when there are three games to go.

"But I thought the boys deserved their day off tomorrow. I congratulated them at half-time for picking it up after we started poorly. We got a break with the deflection at the goal, but I thought we merited the victory."