Jim Jefferies cheered as injured Hearts trio restart training

HEARTS' crippling injury crisis could finally be easing after Andrew Driver, Scott Robinson and Jamie MacDonald all returned to training.

Manager Jim Jefferies was without 14 first-team squad members for Sunday's 1-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Dundee United. But he revealed winger Driver could be back before the SPL split in mid-April.

"Andrew was training today but we can't consider him for at least a couple of weeks," said Jefferies of the 22-year-old, who has struggled all season with tendonitis in his knee and has not featured for more than a month.

"With a bit of luck we might see him before the split, it all depends how he responds."

Further good news for Jefferies came in the shape of Robinson's return to training yesterday, the striker coming through the session without any problems following his knee injury.

Goalkeeper MacDonald, who injured his ankle in December, is also back in full training.

"We're getting a few of the guys back, which is good," Jefferies told Hearts News Today.