Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies surprised by ref choice
Collum will take charge of a Jambos match just over a fortnight after refusing to overturn his decision to send off Laryea Kingston in the club's 1-0 SPL defeat at Aberdeen.[LNB]"I'm a bit surprised we get someone so quickly after that but I don't control the referees," said Jefferies.[LNB]"He's down as one of the better ones (referees) and hopefully the game's played hard but fair and he lets the game run smoothly.[LNB]"It'll be like all derbies, blood-and-thunder stuff.[LNB]"There'll be a little bit more bite in the game.[LNB]"So I hope the referee realises what an important game it is and doesn't come out with a frenzy of yellow cards."[LNB]Saturday's game will be the first derby of Jefferies' second spell in charge of Hearts and will see the boyhood fan and former captain square off against a man with just as many links to Hibernian, John Hughes.[LNB]The pair's relationship goes all the way back to Berwick Rangers in 1988 when Hughes - then a player - did not exactly welcome Jefferies' appointment as manager.[LNB]But they have since become firm friends, working together again at Falkirk before pitting their wits against each other when Jefferies was in charge of Kilmarnock and Hughes was Bairns boss.[LNB]"I know he'll be wanting to win and he knows really well how badly I want to win," said Jefferies, who is pinching himself at being in charge for another derby following his surprise return to Hearts at the end of January.[LNB]"You thought you'd seen the back of them![LNB]"This game comes along, it always adds a little bit of spice.[LNB]"We all know what it means to everyone connected with both clubs.[LNB]"Hibs will be trying hard but we're at home, we've got to take the initiative.[LNB]"We need to get a win - not just to get the bragging rights - but we need to get a win to try to get into the top six.[LNB]"If we have to motivate anybody to play in this game then they just shouldn't be in football.[LNB]"I'm sure John doesn't see it as problem and I'm hoping not to see it is a problem."[LNB]Meanwhile, Jefferies insists Ismael Bouzid has not approached him seeking contract talks amid reports the defender's agent is flying to Edinburgh.[LNB]He added on Hearts.TV: "He hasn't given me any hint that he's anything but happy here."[LNB]Bouzid is a number of players who remain sidelined for this weekend's capital clash, with Jefferies revealing both Ryan Stevenson and Callum Elliot had not yet trained this week.[LNB]But Andrew Driver, Craig Thomson and Scott Robinson are one step closer to making comebacks from their knee injuries.[LNB]All three appeared in Tuesday's behind-closed-doors friendly with Kilmarnock, coming through without any problem.[LNB]Driver, who has been out since early February, played around 35 minutes of the game, while Thomson and Robinson - who have been missing for even longer - were each given a half as Hearts chalked up a 1-0 victory.[LNB]Jefferies said of their derby prospects: "They've been desperate for a few weeks now, with this game in mind, to get back.[LNB]"All three are looking to push me for inclusion."[LNB][LNB] Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet.
