Webster plans more festivities

DARREN JOHNSTONE

HEARTS’ match-winning defender Andy Webster believes the Tynecastle club can add to their Festival Cup success and become main contenders for the two other cup competitions this season.

The Scotland international scored the only goal of the game in the inaugural Festival Cup match against Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday and, after being presented with the trophy at Tynecastle yesterday, is desperate to get his hands on more silverware.

The 21-year-old former Arbroath player insists summer signings Tepi Moilanen, Patrick Kisnorbo, Paul Hartley and Dennis Wyness will make a huge difference to the team.

Webster was one of Hearts’ most consistent performers last term and even won his first Scotland cap, but he is well aware he will have to work hard to retain his place in the Hearts’ side.

"The manager has brought in good quality players and it is good that there is competition for places because everybody knows when they are in the team that they have to do a job," he said.

"There is a lot of competition for places which is healthy for the team, and hopefully we can improve on last season.

"It is the first trophy I have won as a senior player and it’s nice to win things. It would obviously be nice to win the League Cup and the Scottish Cup."

Meanwhile, midfielder Phil Stamp is a doubt for Saturday’s opening league game against Aberdeen. The former Middlesbrough player missed the derby match with a chest infection and has been unable to rid himself of the problem.

"He is a bit better but is still very weak," revealed Levein yesterday. "Although he was in today he wasn’t anywhere near right. I thought he would be fine, but he is a doubt at the moment."

Striker Gary Wales, who has a stress fracture of a foot, and midfielder Jean-Louis Valois, who has returned to his native France to receive treatment on an Achilles injury, are definitely out of Saturday’s match at Tynecastle.

Taken from the Scotsman