HEARTS, already without Andrew Driver due to injury, today suffered another blow ahead of tomorrow's Tynecastle clash with St Johnstone when it emerged that Jamie Mole will also miss the opening match in the second quarter of the SPL campaign.
Mole made his first top-team appearance of the season when he came on as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw with Hibs earlier in the month, the 21-year-old Englishman looking industrious and alert during his cameo appearance.
Indeed,
he almost won the game for Hearts late on, reacting quickest to a spill by Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack only to lose his footing at the crucial moment.
However, Mole, who'd earned that chance after finally recovering from the ankle surgery he required five months ago, is back on the sidelines alongside Driver, Suso Santana and David Templeton.
"Jamie Mole plays (against Hibs] then trains but then the old injury puts him out again," said Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo. "His ankle is inflamed, so he is not in the squad this weekend."
Suso is still recovering from his hernia operation while Driver has a patella (knee injury) and, according to his manager, needs to be rested so that he can recapture the form that lit up the SPL last season.
"Andrew Driver is not the same player he was last year," added Laszlo. "He needs to be 100 per cent fit and the problems with his knee means that he needs to be rested."
Calum Elliot could be in line for a return tomorrow but it remains to be seen if the game comes too quick for Larry Kingston following his hamstring injury.
With Marius Zaliukas still on the sidelines, Laszlo admits it is proving difficult to get his strongest side out on the park but is hopeful Hearts can build on their draw with Hibs by starting this quarter on a winning note.
"Our biggest problem is missing important players with injuries that are not typical," said the manager. "Marius Zaliukas has ankle inflammation, Jamie Mole does too, Eggert Jonsson has had a hernia, Suso Santana as well, and Calum Elliot is just back in training after a knee injury.
"We've also had David Templeton breaking his leg this season. All these injuries are terrible but, unfortunately, this is life."
Meanwhile, Hearts are believed to be one of the clubs monitoring the situation of Plymouth striker Steven McLean. The Scot has been told by Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock that he can leave the Championship side and is believed to be keen on a move to the SPL.
Laszlo was reported to be interested in the former Rangers player in the summer and he could be on his list of possible targets in the January window.
Fans are reminded that tomorrow's match has a 12.30pm kick-off due to the fact the Scotland v Australia rugby match is taking place at Murrayfield later in the day.
