Hearts welcome Wallace update

Wallace: Tore knee ligaments

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Hearts boss Jim Jefferies has revealed that injury victim Lee Wallace may be back sooner than expected.

The defender tore cruciate ligaments in his knee while on Scotland duty against Lichtenstein on Tuesday.

The initial prognosis for the 23-year-old was not good, with Hearts initially announcing that they expected him to be out for six months.

However, further tests have determined that surgery will not be required and the timescale for a complete recovery has been cut accordingly.

Jefferies is still resigned to the fact that he will be without the full-back for the foreseeable future, but he now believes Wallace could be back inside three months.

Damage

"The medical people have told us that they don't think an operation is required," Jefferies told Hearts News.

"Normally when you tear a cruciate ligament there is other damage and a lot of other issues but this doesn't appear to be the case with Lee.

"They are talking about him being in a splint for four weeks and then taking the rehab from there and he could be back in 12 weeks."

The manager added: "This is massive news for us, although we won't have it confirmed for sure until Lee sees the specialist next week.

"Fingers crossed their initial thoughts are correct. This is more encouraging for us and a big boost for the lad, as being out for 10 to 12 weeks is better than the 24 which we all thought."