Kyle may miss start of new campaign

Kevin Kyle may miss the start of the season after being told his knee requires more surgery. The summer signing from Kilmarnock missed the club's pre-season training camp in Italy after suffering discomfort after his first week of sessions following the initial operation. Hearts manager Jim Jefferies told the club's official website: "The mesh which keeps it (the knee) reinforced came away a wee bit so he needs a small operation to tighten that up. "They thought they would get away with an injection so we're back to what we should have maybe done at the start. "It's probably a two or three-week thing, so he might miss the start of the season. "He'll be a miss for the start of the season but you never know. Even if I could get him handy for the bench if I needed him to come on, if he could not manage 90 minutes."

Source: PA