Balogh ready for Hearts return

4th December 2008

Hearts goalkeeper Janos Balogh has declared himself fit for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League trip to to Motherwell.

The Hungarian, on loan from Debrecen, has recovered from the virus which saw him miss last weekend's 2-1 win over Rangers and was back in full training on Thursday morning after a light session on Wednesday.

Balogh is keen to win back his place from Jamie McDonald, who took over for what was Hearts' fifth straight win. The fixture fell on Balogh's 26th birthday and he revealed the result perked him up.

"It was my birthday on Saturday and I would have loved to have been involved in what was a magnificent result," he told Hearts News Today.

"Unfortunately, I had a really bad cold and was in my bed all day. I was keeping in touch with what was happening over the internet and when I saw the final score, it was a great feeling.

"It actually made me feel better for a while but it wasn't the best way to spend my birthday and I couldn't celebrate with the rest of the players."