Hearts hope Kyle will face United

HEARTS striker Kevin Kyle could be fit to face Dundee United tomorrow after having travelled to England to consult a specialist in the hope of finding a quick cure regarding his ongoing groin injury.

The club's top goalscorer limped out of Tuesday night's Scottish Cup defeat by St Johnstone after aggravating the problem and is rated doubtful for the SPL clash at Tannadice, but today assistant manager Billy Brown revealed he's hopeful of having the big hitman available after he received a cortisone injection to ease the problem.

Brown said: "It appears the problem is a legacy of a previous injury. Kyle was given an injection which we hope will do the trick. We will see how he is and I'm certainly not ruling him out of being involved tomorrow. He's desperate to play and we'll give him every chance to make it."

However, Hearts will again be without Czech midfielder Rudi Skacel who is harbouring a minor calf tear. Brown said: "Skacel has missed a couple of games, it's part of football and we just have to get on with it."

If Kyle should miss out, his absence could create a way back into the starting XI for David Obua or Calum Elliot. Both players suffered injuries earlier in the season but are now fit.