Hearts bid to extend Dries trail

HEARTS boss Craig Levein is set to offer Dutch winger Dries Boussatta another week’s trial in the Capital after watching the internationalist in action for the under-21s last night.

The AZ Alkmaar forward started against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and did enough to persuade the Gorgie chief to try to extend his stay with the Jambos.

The 29-year-old was due to return to Holland tomorrow but Levein was expected to meet the player after training today to discuss the situation.

Boussatta, who has also been on trial at Newcastle United, has suffered from a lack of first-team action in recent months after falling out of favour at AZ Alkmaar and Levein does not want to rush into a hasty decision.

"Dries did okay against Aberdeen and it was obvious that he can play a bit," he said.

"But it has to be remembered that he hasn’t played for something like three months and I have to take that into consideration.

"I don’t want to say ‘no’ without giving him a chance so I’ll sit down with him today and talk to him about staying here for another week.

"That way we could have another look at him in training as well as the under-21 game next week."

New Dons signing Leon Mike scored the only goal of the game in the first half to clinch victory for the home side.

"It wasn’t the greatest of matches," added Levein, "but it did give some of the guys who haven’t played much recently a run out, which was important."

Levein, meanwhile, has described as "absolute nonsense" reports linking him with a move for Livingston star David Bingham.

The former Dunfermline ace, who is the Lions’ top scorer this season with eight goals, is out of contract in the summer and has yet to agree a new deal at Almondvale.

Levein was rumoured to be monitoring his situation but has poured cold water on such suggestions.

"There’s nothing in that whatsoever and it’s absolute nonsense as far as I am concerned," he said.

HEARTS under-18s maintained their lead at the top of the table with a 4-1 win at Livingston, Robert Sloan (2), Jamie Winning and Neil Janczyk getting on the scoresheet.

Taken from the Scotsman