Hearts midfielder Black handed two-match ban

IAN BLACK has been handed a two-match ban following his red card against Motherwell at the weekend – but he will be available for Hearts in the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

The 26-year-old midfielder will miss this Saturday's league visit of Aberdeen and an SPL trip to Kilmarnock on August 20, however he will be free to return to face Hibs at Tynecastle at the end of the month.

The 5ft 9in No.?8 will also be available to play Tottenham Hotspur in next Thursday's Europa League play-off in Gorgie.

Black lunged in on Motherwell's Keith Lasley in the second half of Saturday's SPL meeting at Fir Park and was sent off without hesitation by the match referee Stevie O'Reilly.

Hearts boss Paulo Sergio said after the game: "He fights for the ball. Maybe he touched the opponent but he's an honest player. I like Black's style. He is not just an aggressive player, he is a good player."

The red card was only Black's second of a seven-year professional career that began at Inverness, and signalled the first dismissal of his time at boyhood heroes Hearts after two years with the club.

Tranent-born Black has, however, courted controversy for his combative style in the past year, having been accused of deliberately causing injury to Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic during a game last October.