The Scotsman

Haring makes long-awaited return in low-key friendly

● Hearts midfielder in first appearance for club since 2019 Scottish Cup final

- By CRAIG FOWLER

Hearts midfielder Peter Haring expressed his delight after making his long-awaited return from injury in a closeddoor­s game against Falkirk.

The Tyne castle side won 3- 0 at Oriam thanks to goals by Liam Boyce, Jamie Walker and Craig Wighton but it is the news that the Austrian is back in the side for the first time since the 2019 Scottish Cup final that will please the Gorgie club’s fans.

The 27- year-old has been struggling with pain in his pelvic and groin area for the best part of two years and Hearts have been bringing him along slowly after he underwent surgery earlier this year.

Haring, who replaced Andy Irving for the final 15 minutes against Falkirk, insists he is feeling good and can’t wait for further opportunit­ies in the coming weeks.

“It’s been a wee while since I wore a Hearts jersey. I’ m delighted. It wasn’t too long today but I felt decent so I can’t complain,” he told the Hearts website.

“I spoke to the gaffer at the start of last week and he asked how I felt about getting some minutes under my belt today. I said as long as everything felt good I was happy to play and I couldn’t wait for today.

“The touch was average but my body feels good so I’ m really happy. As far as I know I’ ll get some more minutes against Partick at Tynecastle on Saturday so I’m looking forward to that. I’m just happy to get my first minutes and I can’t wait for more to come.”

Hearts started with the same XI who defeated East Fife 5-0 at Tynecastle on Friday, setting up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Boyce flanked by summer signings Jordan Roberts and Elliott Fr ear and Walker offering support from deep. Falkirk, meanwhile, had three ex-hearts players in their starting XI in the shape of Calumn Morrison, Morgaro Gomis and Aidan Keena. A four th, Conor S ammon, was a secondhalf substitute.

While they may have ridden their luck at times later in the match, Hearts were dominant in the opening period and could have had the ball in the net well before Boyce broke the deadlock in the 44th minute.

Falkirk keeper Robbie Mutch made an excellent save to deny Roberts, inset, before seeing an Olly Lee header from a corner directed right at him. Frear almost set up Roberts at the end of a jinking run. The former Motherwell wing er beat two defenders before hanging up a cross to the back post that Roberts knocked just wide.

Walker then went close before Hearts made the breakthrou­gh. Running onto a through ball from Ben Garuccio, Roberts initially seemed to give up on the play before chasing it down and crossing from the bye line. Boyce got there before the covering defender to slide home.

Hearts made two changes at the break, replacing Boyce and Craig Gordon with Wighton and back-up keeper Ross Stewart, but it was the visitors who looked rejuvenate­d in the second half.

Morrison had the ball in the net only for the goal to be chopped off. Sam mon then charged with the ball from deep to the edge of the Hearts penalty area before firing a shot off the post.

Falkirk paid for those missed opportunit­ies in the 70 th minute. After Steven Naismith and Josh Ginnelly replaced Frear and Roberts, the latter substitute tore down the right before crossing for Walker to fire beyond Mutch.

Wighton then made sure of things from the penalty spot after defender Craig Halkett had been kicked in the head trying to attack aG in nelly corner.

 ?? PICTURE: PAUL DEVLIN/SNS ?? 0 Peter Haring’s last outing for Hearts before yesterday was the 2019 Scottish Cup final.
PICTURE: PAUL DEVLIN/SNS 0 Peter Haring’s last outing for Hearts before yesterday was the 2019 Scottish Cup final.
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