Levein looks to Berra to give Hearts a boost

CRAIG LEVEIN, the Hearts manager, believes the miraculous return of club captain Christophe Berra could give the Tynecastle outfit an advantage over Rangers before a ball is even kicked.

The 33-year-old is expected to line up against the Glasgow giants this afternoon, around a month ahead of when he was initially slated to complete his recovery from a torn hamstring.

The Scotland defender emerged unscathed from a bounce game against Linlithgow Rose on Wednesday night and, with Jimmy Dunne toiling with an ankle knock, appears certain to be called upon against the Gers.

As well as being a rock at the heart of the Jambos backline, Levein reckons it is impossible to underestimate the psychological importance of being able to select Berra – a leader on and off the pitch.

“Christophe was good the other night,” confirmed Levein. “The pitch was quite heavy and, at one point, we toyed with the option of not playing him just because of how slippery it was. But he got through it.

“There’s no reaction to the injury, he’s been quite diligent in his rehab and I expect him to be okay.

“I think getting him back – even just having him on the team-sheet – is a boost for everybody. His leadership qualities are renowned and he has a presence and an aura about him.

“Maybe the opposition also look at the team sheet and think: ‘Oh right, he’s back.’

“He’s been outside sprinting, he’s done everything he needs to do in a match. The only difficulty is the extended period that he would need to play.”