PRESSLEY SINGS THE PRAISES

Hearts 0 Fulham 2

Elvis delighted with new Jambo Stewart

By Gary Ralston

HEARTS skipper Steven Pressley has told Michael Stewart he will never regret leaving Manchester United.

Pressley looked across the dressing room at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon and saw the same burning ambition in the eyes of Stewart he had at Rangers.

The Scotland stopper was forced to walk out of his boyhood favourites at the age of 21, frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities behind players such as Richard Gough, Dave McPherson and John Brown.

Midfielder Stewart, 23, is in a similar position at Old Trafford and has funded a 12-month loan move to Hearts in a bid to play regular top-team football for the first time in his career. He made his debut in the second half against Fulham, his first serious game of football since Christmas.

Naturally Stewart tired but for 25 minutes he ran the middle of the park and provided a link from midfield to the strikers that had previously been lacking as Levein's side struggled to penetrate the Premiership side.

His performance augured well for the months ahead and Pressley, 30, is in no doubt Hearts will benefit from Stewart's unselfishness.

He said: 'I've been very impressed with Michael's attitude and I've been in the same position myself when I was desperate to play first-team football at Rangers.

'It wasn't going to happen for me and I made a decision to move on to Coventry. It can be quite easy to sit back and enjoy the lifestyle that comes with being a player for the Old Firm or Manchester United.

'Michael has chosen not to do that because he's desperate to prove himself on a regular basis and he deserves praise for taking a wage cut to come here.

'His attitude is spot on. He could have seen out the remaining two years of his deal at Old Trafford because being a player for United must be a fantastic feeling. Instead, he has chosen to come here and the players appreciate his sacrifice.

'My decision to leave Rangers when I did has certainly been justified as I've gone on to have a thoroughly enjoyable career and I'm very proud to have captained a club like Hearts.

'If someone had told me at the age of 14 I'd go on to captain this club for a large part of my career I'd have been very satisfied with that.

'I'm very proud to be here and it proves my decision to leave Rangers when I did was the correct one.'

Pressley is out of contract at the end of the season but will not rush to pressure the club for a new deal while the board concentrates on their stadium plans for the future. He added: 'There are more pressing issues for the club to resolve before my contract but I'm desperate to extend my time here and hopefully we'll get round the table in due course.'

Pressley missed a late penalty, his second of the pre-season when Edwin Van Der Saar stretched out a long arm to block his effort but joked afterwards he saves his scoring for the games that count.

The Jambos deserved the consolation but not the win and although they enjoyed the bulk of possession they still have to gel up front.

Certainly, their cohesion wasn't helped when Mark de Vries and Jamie McAllister hobbled off in the first half with tight hamstrings that could rule them out of the SPL opener at Dundee.

New Spanish striker Ramon Pereira looks sharp in the box and had a first-half header ruled out for offside, though Levein must tell him there is no place for his mullet hairstyle in Scottish football.

Fulham scored early through defender Zat Knight, who powered in a header from a corner, and late on Andy Cole scored his first goal for the club with a well-placed 20-yard shot.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman said: 'I was happy with our result, though not the performance. Hearts are a good team and dominated for long periods and it wouldn't surprise me if they give Rangers and Celtic a game this season.'

Levein added: 'We had a lot of good passing but we still have to work going forward as that's where we're falling down.'