Double delight as Fuller and Levein win top awards

HEARTS were today celebrating a double triumph after strike star Ricardo Fuller and boss Craig Levein scooped the player and manager of the month awards for December.

The Jamaican front man has been a huge hit at Tynecastle since Levein plucked him on loan from the obscurity of Tivoli Gardens in the Caribbean.

The 22-year-old has been instrumental in helping rejuvenate the Jambos season, smashing seven goals in his last six outings and causing havoc among SPL defences.

His rich vein of form has seen him named the Bank of Scotland Player of the Month and his manager today spoke of his delight for his loan star.

"The award is excellent recognition for Ricardo," said Levein.

"He took a wee while to settle and this will be another boost to his confidence. He has a lot of ability, but the hard work he has been putting in has been the key to his improvement."

After helping guide Hearts to an impressive run of results which has seen the Gorgie outfit lose just once in their last nine matches, Levein was named as the Bank of Scotland Manager of the Month to make it a double celebration for the Tynecastle club.

"It’s nice to pick up these awards but, in all honesty, it is down to the efforts of the players," he said. "If they hadn’t been performing, we wouldn’t have been getting the results and they deserve great credit."

Levein also dedicated the award to his backroom team of assistant Peter Houston and under-21 coach John McGlynn.

He added: "A lot of the work they do goes unnoticed and this is an opportunity to give them some recognition. We have one of the smallest staffs as far as the football side of things is concerned, and Peter and John have done a tremendous job."

Fuller took time to settle after making his debut in the derby against Hibs at Easter Road in October, but he has since proved to be one of the SPL’s hottest properties.

He netted a contender for goal of the season in the recent victory over Motherwell at Tynecastle and has been winning rave reviews for his displays.

The fans have taken to him in some style and Levein is hoping there is even more to come.

"The way the supporters have responded to Ricardo has certainly helped him settle," he said. "I know he appreciates their support and it has filled him with confidence.

"These awards are another positive thing for the club during what is a good period for us. It is another indication that things are moving in the right direction."

Thomas Flogel is rated as a major doubt for the weekend visit of Aberdeen after twisting his ankle in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup win over Ross County. The Austrian will have treatment throughout the week.

Taken from the Scotsman