Winger Suso has vowed to return to the Hearts first team as quickly as possible after undergoing a hernia operation.

The Spanish wide man went under the knife earlier this week and has now set his sights on reclaiming his place in the team.

Initial indications suggest he could be out for around six weeks but the 24-year-old is determined to do all he can to get back into the fray sooner than that.

"I had the problem for a little while and played a few matches with it and it was decided that an operation was the best thing to do," he told Hearts News Today.

"The doctors have told me I'm probably looking at six weeks but I want to get back before that. Hopefully I can do it in four weeks as I want to get back into the team as quickly as possible.

"It's disappointing to miss the derby this weekend but I hope the players can put the defeat to Motherwell behind them and get a good result in front of our own fans."

Marius Zaliukas, meanwhile, is continuing his rehabilitation from his ankle injury back home in Lithuania as he targets a a first team return next month.

On Hearts.TV today, Andrew Driver discusses Saturday's derby clash with Hibs and his international aspirations.