Hearts defender Darren Barr will be back stronger after being dropped from the team's makeshift back four. Barr made a promising start to the season at right-back but was left out of the 18 against Motherwell on Saturday after having a difficult night at centre-half as Hearts lost 4-3 to his former club Falkirk in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

The Hearts boss explained he did not want to put Barr under pressure to atone for his display at Falkirk and promised to get the Scotland cap back in his team soon.

"I'm a bit gutted but I didn't have the best game against Falkirk so it's understandable," said Barr.

"If you are not doing it on the park, you don't play. The manager explained it to me as well and he was good about it, so I completely understand.

"I just need to take it on the chin and keep working hard.

"I came to Hearts to try and better my career and get better as a player.

"You need to take the knocks as well and get up. I'm busting a gut in training and I will just get my head down and get on with it."