Wallace eyes comeback in derby game

Hearts defender Lee Wallace hopes to bring in the New Year in style by making his comeback from serious injury in the Edinburgh derby.

The Scotland international's rehab is progressing well after he tore his cruciate ligament against Liechtenstein on 7 September.

It was initially thought Wallace's season was over, but his knee prognosis proved not as bad as first feared following a visit to a London specialist, and surgery wasn't required.

The left-back has already started running under the guidance of head physio Rob Marshall and has pencilled in 1 January as his target return date. The 23-year-old said: "I'm looking at another six or seven weeks. It would be a huge incentive to be back for the New Year game.

"It's big enough to be involved in any derby but for that match to be at the time of my comeback would be even more special."

Meanwhile, new East Fife manager John Robertson has used his contacts at ex-club Hearts to recruit Dylan McGowan on loan.

The 19-year-old, brother of fellow Tynecastle player Ryan, has joined the Second Division side until mid-January at least.

McGowan has been on the first-team bench under Jim Jefferies but will now join fellow Hearts loan defender Michael Deland, also 19, at the Fifers.