Hearts were today boosted by the return to training of striker Gary Glen.

The Tynecastle hitman has been out of action since being named on the bench on Boxing Day against Falkirk - ironically when his stomach injury occurred.

After seeing a specialist and starting running last week the 19-year-old is ready to get back into first team action.

Whether this weekend's game against Rangers will simply come too early for Gary remains to be seen, but it's a boost for manager Csaba Laszlo that his options are improving.

"It has been a difficult time for Gary over the last few weeks, but we need him to be fit as he can be an important option for us," he told Hearts News.

The player himself revealed it was at half-time whilst he and the other substitutes were warming up at Westfield that the injury struck.

"I was just doing wee sprints and at half time I felt something go," Gary revealed. "I went down to Bradford to see a specialist who revealed that there was a small tear.

"Now he wants me to get back into training and see how it feels - it certainly feels absolutely fine now."

It's been a frustrating season for the striker, this blow coming at a time when manager Csaba Laszlo has looked more towards the young talent at his disposal.

"Yeah, it's been frustrating to pick up the injury, and even more so after I scored against Dunfermline in the Co-op Cup and had to sit out, but these things happen," he added.

In other news, Dawid Kucharski and Arvydas Novikoas are both likely to sit out another week with ankle problems, whilst Jamie Mole is still three weeks away with a bruised foot.