Fitness test will determine Driver's place in Hearts' derby side
Published Date:
14 October 2008
By BARRY ANDERSON
ANDY DRIVER was due to undergo a fitness test at Riccarton today to determine whether he will be fit for Sunday's Edinburgh derby.
Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts manager, is confident of having the influential Englishman available but revealed this morning that he will wait for the outcome of the tests.
Driver has not played for six weeks due to an Achilles problem but returned to light training last week without suffering any adverse reaction.
"Andy has his fitness test today and, if everything is okay, I think he will play at the weekend," said Laszlo. "I am confident but I will wait to see what happens today. He had recovery training last week and I hope everything is okay now and he can begin full training tomorrow. That would be a big positive.
"We must see him play football, running, shooting and sprinting. If there is no reaction and he can do this 100 per cent, I think he will be okay." Mike Tullberg, the striker on loan from Reggina, missed training yesterday with a stomach complaint but Laszlo does not expect it to threaten his availability for Easter Road.
Only 150 tickets remained yesterday from Hearts' 3800 allocation for the match and club captain Christophe Berra is enthused by the prospect of a heavy maroon presence in Leith.
He said: "It is a massive game for us and I am really delighted that it looks like we'll have a sell-out in the away end. It's the first derby of the season and I am sure it will be a close and exciting encounter.
"But it can make all the difference to see the away end packed and giving the lads great support. We've got to go in totally united against Hibs and I know we'll do that with everyone's backing."
The full article contains 312 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
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Last Updated:
14 October 2008 10:20 AM
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Source:
Edinburgh Evening News
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
Heart of Midlothian FC