Hearts v Dundee

HEARTS manager Jim Jefferies made a robust defence of goalkeeper Gilles Rousset yesterday and revealed that the year's extension on his contract he has ovvered the Frenchman would also take in some coaching duties.

Although Antti Niemi is sure to start against Dundee today Jefferies believes that Rousset still has a lot to offer as a goalkeeper and will mount a strong challenge for a place in the starting line-up. Rousset has told the Hearts manager that he will decide within the next fortnight whether he will accept his offer or take up the chance to return to France with Sochaux in a coaching role.

The Hearts coach said that, on the club's winter break, Rousset was in great form and he criticised opposition spectators who had ''cynically cheered'' when they realised the goalkeeper would be playing in games this season.

Jefferies believes that the signing of Niemi would prove to be the spur Rousset, 35, needed to bring out the best in the goalkeeper and he said it was too soon to write him off.

''Gilles has been a great signing for the club, one of the best I have ever made,'' said Jefferies. ''I think he has come in for unfair criticism, some of it cynical.

''He has been a magnificent servant to the club and a team as big as Hearts needs their goalkeepers challenging for the number one position. He is a determined character and he will relish trying to get back in the team. He has been playing well for us and I feel we need him for another season.''

Hearts go into today's game with injury worries over both first-choice strikers Gary McSwegan, who has a groin strain, and Stephane Adam, who has a hamstring injury. If they fail to make it, youngster Gary Wales, who they signed from Hamilton, could start the match alongside Darren Jackson, who will be pushed forward.

Club captain Colin Cameron is still struggling with an ankle injury, while Steven Pressley has a neck strain, but both are expected to play, as is new signing Robert Tomaschek.

Jefferies still believes that his side can snatch a UEFA Cup spot, although they face a fixture backlog with the Scottish Premier League being called in to arbitrate on when games against St Johnstone and Aberdeen will be played.

Meanwhile, Dundee's Shaun McSkimming is ready to play for the Dens Park club only five weeks after undergoing stomach surgery. He had his operation on December 17, only days after he was forced to come off in the Tannadice derby against Dundee United because he was in so much pain.

McSkimming has been named in the squad for today's game and could be back in action after missing just one game courtesy of the Premier League winter break and the postponement of Dundee's fixture with Aberdeen on December 18.

McSkimming said: ''I was on a course of exercises from the day I left hospital to strengthen the stomach area and maintain my general fitness. That meant I was out running over the Christmas and New Year period, but I consider the effort has been well worthwhile.

''We are going into a really important time of the season, because we meet Hearts and Kilmarnock in the space of four days and then we face Ayr United in the Scottish Cup next weekend.

''It's a hectic programme and we realise we need a good start to set us up for the second half of the season. I feel I am ready to play a part in that, even though I will be facing a psychological barrier in my first game back after an operation, but I don't have any fears over that.''

Dundee stuttered badly when they came back after the break last season, crashing out of the Scottish Cup to Morton at Cappielow. McSkimming hopes it will be different this time because of the week they spent in Cyprus during the shutdown.

McSkimming and front man Nicky Banger, who was also troubled by injury during the break, are in the Dens Park squad, but manager Jocky Scott admits that he faces a difficult decision over them.

Scott said: ''They have managed all the work we have done this week and I now have to consider if they should be involved after the problem they have had recently. It is a matter of taking into account whether or not they are liable to last 90 minutes.''

Scott has all his squad available apart from long-term casualties Willie Miller, Lee Maddison, and Robbie Raeside.

''Despite the injuries, we will all be happy to get back to playing because it seems a long time since we had a game. No team in the league knows how they will react after the shutdown, but we do know we are facing a difficult game against Hearts.

''We have another big test on Wednesday, when Kilmarnock come to Dens, and it is important for us to take points from both games because it would set us up for the rest of the season and the added incentive for us at Tynecastle is that a win would put us above Hearts.''

BOOKIES' VIEW: Hearts 10-11, Dundee 10-3, draw 12-5.