Williamson plots Euro return against Hearts

Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson flew back from Poland plotting a return to Europe in a few months' time.

Williamson had been in charge of Scotland's Under-21 squad in the absence of Alex Smith, whose club commitments with Dundee United had prevented him from making the trip.

That was a one-off arrangement but Williamson knows that if Killie beat Hearts on Friday night then it will be odds-on he will need his passport once again in the summer.

These are the two sides who are battling it out for the final Uefa Cup place available to Scottish teams.

That's the one for fourth place, currently occupied by the Ayrshiremen, which will open the door to the qualifying round in August.

A home win will see Killie's advantage stretched to six points with only nine left available for either side.

But if Craig Levein's team triumph at Rugby Park in a fixture brought forward to Friday night for live TV broadcast then the Edinburgh team will leapfrog over Killie on goal difference.

Williamson, who saw the Under-21s lose their Tuesday afternoon friendly 1-0, said: "It's a big game for both sides. Hopefully we can get the breaks on the night.

"A win gives us a six point gap with only three to play although it will be difficult to get points at all with all the teams we have to play.

"It would be great if we could pick up three points tomorrow night."

Williamson wasn't the only representative from the club in Poland this week as Andy McLaren capped a remarkable 12 months by making his senior international debut.

He was sent on as a half-time substitute by Scotland coach Craig Brown in last night's 1-1 draw with the Poles in Bydgoszcz.

McLaren, the former alcoholic who was sacked by Reading after failing a drugs test, had replaced another potential key player in tomorrow's clash, Hearts skipper Colin Cameron, to win that precious first cap.

Williamson said: "It is great for him to get international recognition. He has worked hard this season.

"He's a bit tired but I'm sure it will also have given him a big buzz. It's the pinnacle of a player's career to play for his country."

Club team-mate Peter Canero played in the Under-21 defeat, with goalkeeper Colin Stewart watching from the bench.

Stewart has been drafted into tomorrow's squad as cover for Colin Meldrum as Gordon Marshall is out following a training ground injury.

Williamson kept tabs from Poland on his team's preparations in his absence but insisted they had been nothing out of the ordinary anyway.

He said: "We just did our usual preparations. Football is very boring that way - repetitions all the time."

The club has been boosted by news that assistant manager Jim Clark, who was struck down by a blood clot on the brain earlier in the month, was to be released from hospital.

Williamson said: "It is very good news although he might have to go back in again in four or five weeks time. He'll still be housebound but at least he is out of hospital.

"They have looked after him well there but no-one likes to be there any longer than they have to."

Hearts will welcome back striker Stephane Adam for the first time in six weeks after a thigh injury.

Scotland squad regular Steven Pressley will be available after sitting out the Poland match because of injury but Robert Tomaschek serves the last game of a two-match suspension.

Grant Murray and Darren Goldie are both added to the squad along with new signing from Arbroath, centre-half Andy Webster.