Tony Capaldi aims to seal deal with Hearts to cover for Lee Wallace

A free agent following his release by Cardiff City, the 29-year-old trained at Riccarton yesterday morning and was due for discussions with the Hearts hierarchy this afternoon over a prospective four-month contract.

Wallace's posterior cruciate ligament tear, sustained during Scotland's victory over Liechtenstein on Tuesday evening, will not require surgery and there is hope that he could return to first-team action by January.

In the interim, manager Jim Jefferies requires experienced cover and Capaldi is hopeful of agreeing terms.

"I'll know more later today because I have to go in and speak to Hearts," he told the Evening News. "I don't know exactly what will happen but I'm hoping to get something sorted out until January.

"I trained yesterday and we've agreed to have a chat today. Everything depends on what is said in the meeting. If it goes well I hope to be in the squad tomorrow against Celtic.

"The lad (Wallace] got some good news about his injury so Hearts will have to decide if they still need me. I hope something can be done but if not I'll have to look elsewhere."

Born in Porsgrunn, Norway, Capaldi has over 20 caps for Northern Ireland and previously played for Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle before joining Cardiff in 2007. He spent six weeks on loan at Leeds United last season but has been searching for a club throughout the summer after trials with both Plymouth and Crystal Palace proved unsuccessful.

Hearts, meanwhile, will receive compensation from the SFA as a result of Wallace's injury. The player's wages and medical costs will be covered by the governing body, but Jefferies today bemoaned the loss of half his first-choice back four with Marius Zaliukas also injured and engaged in a contract dispute with club officials.

"Marius is back here for treatment, he wasn't fit for the Dundee United game before he left (for international duty] and he's still not fit," said Jefferies. "He didn't play for Lithuania and I don't think the situation has changed. He's locked in talks, he's a Kaunas player until that's resolved.

"I just have to get on with things here. Marius has been tremendous since he came in and now we're looking like losing two of our back four with him and Lee out. A bit of it is in Marius' own hands as well. He has to want to stay here and he's got to agree terms to become a player here permanently."

With Zaliukas and Wallace both absent for tomorrow's trip to Celtic Park, Eggert Jonsson will don the captain's armband. "Eggert does it by attitude and he isn't frightened to give an opinion. On the park he's a winner," said Jefferies.

"The players all respect him. He was a strong candidate to get the captaincy in the summer so, wherever he plays, he'll be the captain."

Strikers Gary Glen and Stephen Elliott are both extremely doubtful for tomorrow, while Andy Driver is training and could make a first-team return later this month.