Mikoliunas fears for future

Hearts striker Saulius Mikoliunas is fearful for his future with the Edinburgh club.

The Lithuania international is set to spend the next eight matches on the sidelines after a Scottish Football Association disciplinary committee handed him a further ban for pushing linesman Andy Davis.

Mikoliunas was initially handed a three-match ban after physically confronting Davis when he awarded a late penalty in Hearts' 2-1 home defeat to Rangers earlier this month.

The 20-year-old was then given a further five matches for his indiscretion, meaning the Baltic hit-man will miss the Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Celtic on April 10.

With Mikoliunas's deal set to expire in the summer, the former FBK Kaunas player believes he may have damaged his chances of earning a contract extension at Tynecastle.

"I will consider what the best thing is for me to do now," Mikoliunas told the Daily Record. "I need to keep my fitness up.

"There was a lot of discussion at home after what happened and I had a difficult time with my parents and colleagues.

"But I like Hearts and I hope I will have an opportunity between now and the end of the season to show John Robertson and the fans what I can do.

"I repeatedly apologised before the committee. I had only ever had three yellow cards before this.

"I asked that the disciplinary committee should limit the ban to SPL matches, but that hasn't happened."

The Jambos are currently considering an appeal against Mikoliunas's extended ban.