Kisnorbo set for Olympic dilemma

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS defender Patrick Kisnorbo is facing the prospect of a club-versus-country dilemma if, as expected, he is selected for the Australian national side to take part in the Olympic Games this summer.

The Tynecastle utility-man, who has just returned from international duty against Greece in Volos, is likely to be a key member of Frank Farina’s Under-23 side to compete in the Olympics in Athens.

Kisnorbo was recalled to the national side for last Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Greece and played the full 90 minutes having previously snubbed the Olympic qualifying matches to try and establish himself at Hearts.

The 23-year-old turned in an impressive display at right back and should now be included when Farina names an 18-strong squad for a training camp lasting the whole of July and the competition itself in August.

The Socceroos also have a double-header with Turkey in Australia towards the end of May and Kisnorbo could yet be involved in those games.

That would leave the former South Melbourne player little time to recuperate from a hectic SPL campaign, and would also see him miss a proposed pre-season tour to Austria and the start of the new season with Hearts.

"The whole of July there is a camp for the build up to the Olympics and then in August there is the competition itself. If I was to be selected then it would mean missing the pre-season and the start of the league," he admitted.

"The squad hasn’t been announced yet so I don’t know what is going to happen but it’s definitely a bit of a headache for me.

"There’s good points and bad points involved with going or staying. If I was to go it would mean being part of the Olympic Games and playing against the rest of the world, but it would mean missing out here so it’s a bit of a catch-22 situation.

"I also wouldn’t get much of a break between the end of the season and the start of the next one so there are a few things to think about.

"At the moment I’m really just playing things by ear and I will make a decision if and when it comes to it. I don’t think the club can stop me if I want to go so it’s up to each individual to decide what they want to do."

But Kisnorbo did hint that he would find the chance to represent his country at the Olympics a very difficult proposition to turn down. "Everyone wants to play for their country and it was at the back of my mind that I may not feature again having turned down the chance the last time to concentrate on getting in at Hearts," he said.

"I took the chance and thankfully it looks as though it has paid off.

"It was good to be involved during the week and now I just want to cement my spot in the side and the best way to do that is to keep playing week in week out with Hearts.

"I’m definitely hopeful of being involved in the future and if I can play well with Hearts it will keep the pressure on the coach to keep me involved. Fortunately I had a good game against Greece so that should keep me in with a chance.

"There are also two full games for the Socceroos coming up in May and I’ve heard that a few of the young boys might be getting brought in for that so it would be nice to be involved."

Hearts boss Craig Levein was delighted when Kisnorbo chose to stay in the Capital earlier this season to fight for his place in the team and admitted that should he choose to travel to the Olympics it could put his place at risk.

"We will worry about that situation when it comes round but I would think it’s more likely to cause Patrick a problem than me. If somebody else gets in when he is away and plays well then he could struggle to get it [his place] back."

Meanwhile, Kisnorbo has admitted that the SPL’s decision to reject a proposal for Hearts to play Celtic in his homeland had come as something of a disappointment.

"It would have been good to go back and play in front of the people back home but the idea has been rejected so we’ll just have to forget about it. There’s no point being upset but it would have been nice."

Taken from the Scotsman