Youngsters set to face Steelmen

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS starlets Gary Tierney and Andrew Driver are set to make their first-team debuts against Motherwell tomorrow - as Scott Severin, Steven Boyack and Andy Kirk bring the curtain down on their Gorgie careers.

Tierney, 20, and 16-year-old winger Driver have impressed in youth games this season and are poised to be rewarded with their first taste of senior action against the Steelmen.

Boss Craig Levein is keen to hand them their first senior involvement in the final game of the season - and is equally determined to use tomorrow’s clash to give the departing trio the opportunity to take a final bow in front of the fans.

Levein has confirmed that Kirk, Boyack and Severin will all be leaving the club in the summer with the Gorgie outfit unable to offer them new deals.

It is a huge blow for the Jambos boss, who said: "If it was purely a footballing decision then I could take it on the chin, but it is not and it is difficult for all concerned.

"Steven Boyack was my first signing, I have known Seve for a long time and Kirky has scored a lot of important goals for us. They are three smashing lads and hopefully they will get clubs sorted out quickly. I plan to give all three a game tomorrow, if I can, so they can say their farewells to the supporters.

"I also plan to play young Gary Tierney, who almost made the bench against Rangers at Ibrox in midweek, and Andrew Driver will be added to the squad.

"It all means the line-up will be a mixed bunch really as I want the youngsters to play as well as the guys who are leaving."

Levein, who is set to again be without skipper Steven Pressley, will also play safe with Mark de Vries and Alan Maybury.

The pair are one booking short of being suspended for the start of next season and will not feature as the Jambos look to keep their impressive home run intact.

As we revealed on Thursday, Joe Hamill, Neil Janczyk and Robert Sloan all put pen to paper on new one-year deals yesterday. And up-and-coming defender Christophe Berra has also committed himself to the club by agreeing new terms.

Taken from the Scotsman