Wallace offered hope of quick recovery

Hearts have been handed a major boost as it emerged Lee Wallace may not require surgery and could return from his knee injury in three months. Wallace suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament in Scotland's 2-1 defeat of Liechtenstein on Tuesday night.Jim Jefferies had resigned himself to being without the left-back for a minimum of six months but the Hearts manager hasnow received promising news from Wallace's consultant."The medical people have told us that they don't think an operation is required," Jefferies told Hearts News."Normally when you tear a cruciate ligament there is other damage and a lot of other issues but this doesn't appear to be the case with Lee."They are talking about him being in a splint for four weeks and then taking the rehab from there and he could be back in 12 weeks."Jefferies was thrilled with the news, although confirmation will not be received until next week.The manager added: "This is massive news for us, although we won't have it confirmed for sure until Lee sees the specialist next week."Fingers crossed their initial thoughts are correct. This is more encouraging for us and a big boost for the lad, as being out for 10 to 12 weeks is better than the 24 which we all thought."The first fixture Wallace will miss as a result of the injury he suffered at Hampden Park is Saturday's clash with Celtic, meaning Jefferies will be without two members of his first-choice defence.Marius Zaliukas is also out with a knee problem, while he remains the subject of contract discussions with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov with his loan from FBK Kaunas due to expire in December.There is the added factor that Wallace was named skipper in club captain Zaliukas's absence, meaning Jefferies is set to hand the armband to Eggert Jonsson at Parkhead on Saturday.Wallace's place at left-back could go to midfielder Ruben Palazuelos, who is prepared to play wherever he is asked."I prefer to play in midfield, but I have played left-back," he said."Last year, when I played there, I played okay. But it's a decision for the manager. I will play there - it's better than nothing."While the future for Wallace now appears to be brighter, there remains ongoing uncertainty over Zaliukas.The Lithuania international last week denied claims he had asked for £20,000 a week to sign a new deal and insisted he hoped the situation would soon be resolved.Jefferies today called for Zaliukas to do his utmost to extend his stay in Edinburgh.The Hearts boss said: "A bit of it is in Marius's own hands as well - he's got to want to stay here and he's got to want to agree terms."Zaliukas held discussions with Romanov in Lithuania during the international break, but a resolution is no nearer.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."He's back over today to get treatment," said Jefferies."I don't think the situation's changed. He's locked in talks with them - he's a Kaunas player and until that's resolved we'll have to wait and see. I've just got to get on with things here."

Source: Team_Talk