Pinilla given Hearts backing
06 Sep 2007 - 13:46:32
Hearts assistant coach Stephen Frail has reassured striker Mauricio Pinilla that he still has a future at Tynecastle.
The Chile international is set to step up his rehabilitation following a wrist injury on his return to Edinburgh later this month and could have an important part to play in the first-team picture this season.
Pinilla has endured a horrendous run of injuries since joining Hearts on a permanent basis last summer.
The 23-year-old has started only four games in 12 months and suffered his latest injury blow on the eve of the new season.
"Mauricio is progressing which is good news," Frail told the club's official website.
"There is no doubt he is a talented player. He knows how to score goals and will be an asset to the squad when fully-fit.
"I think he can take Scottish football by storm if he gets his game together. He has all the attributes to be a top striker, although we haven't seen the best of him here.
"Hopefully we will as he can do a job for us in attack. We have been struggling for goals in the early part of the season but, having a fully fit Pinilla in tandem with the rest of the guys here can only be a huge positive for the club."