Ismael Bouzid is desperate to win back his place in the Hearts team to keep alive his World Cup dream.

The Algerian has missed the last two months with hamstring problems but is due to return to full training later this week.

The centre-half knows he faces a race against time to book his ticket to South Africa in the summer but knows he has to be performing well at club level before he can even start thinking of such an honour.

"Of course, the World Cup is still my dream," he told Hearts.TV.

"I am fighting to make it and it is not finished for me. The coach has been giving opportunities to players and there is maybe a chance for me. But I know we have a lot of good players in Europe.

"If I can get back into the team and play well in five or six games for Hearts then hopefully I can show something to the national coach."

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