Hearts midfielder Arnaud Djoum plays first game in six months

Arnaud Djoum made his return from injury today by playing 60 minutes of Hearts Reserves' opening league match against Motherwell.

Arnaud Djoum is back in action for Hearts after six months out

The Cameroonian midfielder started the game at Forthbank - which Motherwell won 2-0 - to end a six-month absence with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

He is two months ahead of schedule having been told by medics he would miss around eight months of football. He suffered the injury in a Premiership match away at Ross County in February this year and has not played since.

Today was Djoum's first outing in a Hearts shirt after an extensive rehabilitation programme. He now hopes to continue his recovery and return to the first team in the coming weeks.

Ryan Edwards, Bobby Burns, Aidan Keena, Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald were also involved in the reserve game.

Both Motherwell goals arrived after Djoum was substituted. George Newell put the hosts ahead on 73 minutes and Neil McLaughlin sealed the victory four minutes later.

Hearts goalkeeper Kelby Mason had saved a penalty after only nine minutes when he sprung to his left to push Newell's spot-kick away.