Pinilla return delayed as unsettled star injures back

CHILEAN striker Mauricio Pinilla has suffered another injury setback as he strives to return to full fitness with Hearts.

Having previously toiled with calf and hamstring problems this season, the 22-year-old is now complaining of back trouble.

Head coach Valdas Ivanauskas had hoped that Pinilla would return to the Hearts first team at some point this month following a lengthy absence since the UEFA Cup second leg in Prague back in September.

But the South American, who is understood to be unsettled in Edinburgh with six months remaining of his season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon, is now back in the treatment room with little prospect of returning in the near future.

"Mauricio has back problems now and it's difficult to say when he will be fit again," said Ivanauskas.

"When you have been injured for such a long time it is very difficult when you are trying to come back. Players will often pick up new, niggling injuries. His hamstring is okay but now it's his back."

Pinilla is attracting interest from his formative club in Santiago, Universidad de Chile, who hoped to lure the striker back to South America during the transfer window.

However, Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov is keen to retain the services of the talented forward.

Ivanauskas admitted however that the club were in "in negotiations" with other clubs over some of their star players.

He told Hearts News: "We have been approached during the transfer window by a number of clubs and agents for some of our players.

"Julien Brellier, Craig Gordon, Michal Pospisil, Paul Hartley and Robbie Neilson are all attracting interest.

Hartley and Neilson have reportedly been atracting the intrest of new Rangers boss Walter Smith.

And Fulham had a £2.5million offer for Craig Gordon swiftly rebutted earlier this month.

However, Ivanuaskas added: "We are now in negotiations with some of these clubs but any offer must be proper and in accordance with the true value of the player.

We expect that there will be further interest in these players from clubs between now and the end of the transfer window given that we are talking about some of the best players in this country."

On the subject of players coming in, Ivanauskas is also reluctant to look too far ahead in the transfer window, although he believes the possibility of more new signings at Hearts is a realistic one.

"There are five days and for now we are concentrating on Gogita Gogua and Laryea Kingston.

We have interest in a few other players but I think we are strong enough for the rest of the season."

Meanwhile, Ivanauskas has praised his players for their doggedness this season in prising three points from matches whilst not playing fluent football.

The Lithuanian is unconcerned with the fluidity of his team at a time of the season when only results matter, and admits he is quite content to accept three points from any game whether Hearts excel or not.

"You can't play with a perfect performance in every game," said Ivanauskas. "The first half against Celtic was very good for us but, apart from losing that game, our confidence is high.

"A clever, experienced team will take points even if you aren't playing beautiful football.

"Last week against Falkirk was a game like that and I think that's normal in such a long season. I am just happy when we take three points."

Taken from the Scotsman