Source: Team_Talk
Defensive issues for Jefferies
Jim Jefferies will be without two key defenders when he takes his Hearts side to Celtic on Saturday following Lee Wallace's knee injury.[LNB] Wallace was yesterday ruled out for six months after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament during Scotland's 2-1 win over Liechtenstein on Tuesday night.[LNB]Meanwhile, Marius Zaliukas, who is currently out with a knee problem, remains the subject of discussions between his parent club FBK Kaunas and Hearts.[LNB]There is the added factor that Wallace was named skipper in club captain Zaliukas' absence, meaning Jefferies is set to hand the armband to Eggert Jonsson at Parkhead on Saturday.[LNB]Zaliukas has been on loan at Tynecastle since the summer of 2006 from Kaunas - owned by Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov - but the agreement expires at the end of December.[LNB]The 26-year-old last week denied claims he asked for £20,000 a week and insisted he hoped the situation would soon be resolved.[LNB]Jefferies today called for Zaliukas to do his utmost to extend his stay in Edinburgh and end the ongoing uncertainty.[LNB]The Hearts boss said: "A bit of it is in Marius' own hands - he's got to want to stay here and he's got to want to agree terms."[LNB]Zaliukas travelled to Lithuania for discussions with Romanov during the international break, but a resolution is no nearer.[LNB]The 26-year-old defender was at Hearts' Edinburgh training ground today, but is unavailable as Jefferies' side take their unbeaten record to Celtic on Saturday.[LNB]"He's back over today to get treatment," said Jefferies.[LNB]"I don't think the situation's changed.[LNB]"He's locked in talks with them - he's a Kaunas player and until that's resolved we'll have to wait and see.[LNB]"I've just got to get on with things here."[LNB]Wallace's injury was the latest blow for Jefferies, who has a number of fitness concerns ahead of the Celtic clash.[LNB]Jefferies will now have a decision to make at who to field at left-back, with Ruben Palazuelos a possible starter in the role.[LNB]The manager added: "It's a huge blow for the boy (Wallace).[LNB]"Things were going well for him, he started the season great, he was made captain and then he gets into the Scotland team.[LNB]"He's a big loss to the team, but we just have to get on with it."[LNB]Wallace will see a specialist in London in the next few days to determine if he will require an operation.[LNB]But Jefferies is optimistic Wallace will make a full recovery.[LNB]"Lee's a determined player and he's young enough to recover," he said.[LNB]"We can't jump the gun, we know what it is, what the scan showed.[LNB]"How he recovers from it is down to seeing the specialist in London.[LNB]"The likelihood is that he'll need an operation, but if he doesn't it might be just rehabilitation.[LNB]"Whatever it is it's going to be a long time out.[LNB]"We just have to accept the worst and fear for the rest of the season, but who knows?[LNB]"We'll try and find the quickest way to get him back and I'm sure with his determination and the age he is he'll get back sooner rather than later."[LNB]
