Jambos silent on Stewart future

Jim Jefferies has refused to say whether Michael Stewart had played his last game for Hearts after stripping the midfielder of the captaincy. Stewart is reportedly unhappy at being relieved of the armband ahead of last weekend's Scottish Premier League defeat by Motherwell.The 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and manager Jefferies admitted he was looking for an alternative skipper.But the Jambos boss denied suggestions he was being "disrespectful" to Stewart, saying: "I don't know if Michael has been quoted as saying that."Nobody at this club has said whether it's his last game or not."So I cannot comment on that."However, Jefferies did refuse to confirm whether the player would be at Tynecastle next season or even in the squad for Saturday's Edinburgh derby at Easter Road."We've never spoken about next year," he said, adding of Stewart's chances of being selected this weekend: "I've not decided that yet - for anybody."Explaining the decision to award Marius Zaliukas the captaincy, Jefferies said: "Michael is out of contract."Maybe he's not been quoted but you read that he's played his last game; there's talk about him going to Cyprus."So if he's going to go, I've got to find a captain for next year."Stewart returned from seven weeks on the sidelines when he came off the bench in the 2-0 defeat at Rangers almost a fortnight ago.Jefferies said: "As far as being disrespectful, he trained for a couple of days with us."He was in the team at Ibrox and he got on."He was great in training all (the following) week."There were plenty of witnesses to say, 'You've done fantastically well - just you concentrate on the football and just let Marius continue'."Meanwhile, Jefferies revealed injury-plagued winger Andrew Driver could return this weekend after three weeks out with a thigh tear.He said: "There's still a wee chance for Andrew Driver; doubtful, but there's a chance."

Source: Team_Talk