Black blow for Hearts

19 September 2010 14:00
Ian Black could be the latest casualty to be added to the ever-growing injury list at Hearts after he picked up an injury during his side's 3-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League triumph at Inverness. The former Caley Thistle midfielder lasted only 36 minutes of the match before succumbing to an ankle knock after challenging for the ball with Adam Rooney. Black had to be replaced by Kevin Kyle and is now a major doubt for Hearts Co-operative Insurance League Cup third round encounter against First Division Falkirk on Tuesday evening. "We will have to check on Ian's fitness for Tuesday," said Hearts manager Jim Jefferies, who is already without the services of Lee Wallace, Andrew Driver, Stephen Elliot and Dawid Kucharski - while new arrival Rudi Skacel missed the win over Caley Thistle due to his lack of fitness. "We may just get an X-ray on his ankle just to be on the safe side, but I think it is more badly bruised than anything else, although we'll know more once the swelling goes down. "There was certainly no malice in the challenge on Ian. When there is a 50/50 ball to be won and a player gets to it just slightly ahead of the other then there's always the chance that someone could suffer an injury."

Source: PA