Levein confident that his French ace will bounce back

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today tipped Jean-Louis Valois to bounce back from the slump in form that has seen him relegated to the bench for the Jambos’ last three outings.

The winger has not started a game since the Gorgie side crashed out of Europe at home to Bordeaux at the end of last month - a match in which his misplaced pass in midfield led to the French side taking the lead.

Since then the Jambos have slumped to two defeats in the league as well as exiting the CIS League Cup to Dundee, but the Frenchman had not been recalled to the starting XI prior to this afternoon’s game against Kilmarnock. Levein, however, is backing his playmaker to return to the kind of form he showed at the start of the season. "Jean-Louis has gone off the boil a little bit but it will come back," said the Hearts boss.

"He’s like any other player, especially a forward player or a flair player, it’s impossible to play at a consistent level the same as it is for a defender.

"I’m not worried about Jean-Louis as although he is out of form I’m sure he will find it again. I don’t know what the actual reasons are but things just aren’t quite working for him.

"He’s not having a desperate time of it at the moment but giving him a wee rest is something that I would do with any other player as well."

Taken from the Scotsman