Maybury refuses to rule out Hearts return

ALAN MAYBURY is back training with Hearts and refuses to rule out a possible return to Tynecastle once he severs all ties with Leicester City. The Irishman is deemed surplus to requirements at the Walkers Stadium, where his contract has six months to run. He moved to the Midlands in January 2005 after three productive years as Hearts' full-back and vice-captain.

Maybury has negotiated a mutual arrangement with Stephen Frail, Hearts' interim manager, that allows him to work out at Riccarton with the first-team squad whilst seeking a new club.

The player's girlfriend is from Edinburgh and the pair still have a home in the city. And he conceded today that the prospect of returning to familiar surroundings was too good to dismiss.

"I wasn't training down at Leicester, just working on my own," he said. "Hearts have given me the opportunity to do some proper football training which is really useful because I've not kicked a football in a month or so. I've just been running in the gym and round the parks of Leicester.

"I spoke to Mikey Stewart recently and he was asking about my situation. I told him I was just training on my own so I think he spoke to the manager and he said I would be more than welcome to come in to Riccarton and train. I'm just grateful for the chance to see a football again. It's a good opportunity for me and I wasn't going to miss it.

"I can't do anything in terms of contracts until I settle things at Leicester but I enjoyed my time at Hearts before. My girlfriend is from Edinburgh so it's a chance for her to come back and spend time with her family. We have a young baby too, so from a personal point of view it suits us. We still have our home here. I know what I'm going back to at Hearts."

Maybury stressed that his contractual situation at Leicester must be concluded quickly to enable him to move on. "I've been told I can look for a new club but I've got six months left on my contract. My agent is talking to the club. They haven't made it clear whether they're going to settle my contract or what. I'm just waiting to hear but I want my future sorted."

Whilst Hearts were defeating Hibs in Saturday's Edinburgh derby, striker Michal Pospisil was concluding a three-and-a-half year contract with the Belgian club Sint-Truiden, where Mirsad Beslija is currently on a season-long loan. The Czech watched from the stand later in the day as his new side drew 1-1 with Lokeren.

Meanwhile, Larry Kingston helped Ghana to a victorious start against Guinea in the African Nations Cup yesterday, playing the full 90 minutes. Sulley Muntari's late goal ensured the hosts defeated Bobo Balde's Guinea 2-1.