Strachan has Hearts star Driver firmly in his sights

The former Celtic manager is expected to make a formal inquiry about Driver's availability as he strives to reinforce his squad in pursuit of promotion from the English Championship.

Strachan has monitored the 22-year-old throughout an injury-interrupted season for the player, in which he has managed only 14 appearances. However, 2m would be the minimum Hearts would demand for one of their most influential players.

Meanwhile, Hearts manager Jim Jefferies today admitted that the lack of an experienced goalscorer has cost his club a place in Europe this season.

While Jefferies' men can still draw level with Hibs on points, they would need an 11-goal swing this weekend to overtake the Easter Road side and secure fifth place in the SPL table.

Hearts have scored just 34 goals in 36 league games this season, leaving their goal difference going into the final game sitting at minus ten and Jefferies conceded that they must add more firepower this summer.

Jefferies said: "When it comes down to it, you can see that goalscoring is worth an extra point. Goal have been a problem for us this season and fair dues to Hibs in particular because they have scored a lot of goals this year.

"They scored six goals last night and we couldn't find one.

"I don't think either goalkeeper was overworked last night. There were a few good chances at either end but no-one could get the final touch on it. I thought that we had a few good moves in the first half down that left-hand side and got balls into the box that just didn't fall for us. Their main threat came from set play."

David Templeton did enough to suggest that he will be a key player next season but the Tynecastle boss added: "Wee Temps will maybe be a bit disappointed because he had some great opportunities to put some good deliveries in but he's just a young boy and is maybe too anxious to hit the perfect ball. A lot of them were just too pacy and too high but this is a real learning curve for him."