Levein gambles on McKenna in attempt to hit £1m jackpot

GRAHAM BEAN
IN BRAGA

IN AN attempt to become Scottish pioneers, Hearts will gamble tonight in Portugal by thrusting Kevin McKenna into the firing line for the UEFA Cup showdown with SC Braga.

The versatile Canadian has not kicked a ball since pre-season and only returned to training on Monday after an operation on his right knee. However, such is the paucity of attacking options available to Craig Levein, the Hearts head coach feels he has no choice but to deploy the centre-half as a lone striker.

The stakes are high. Whoever emerges victorious from the first-round tie will take their place in the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup, guaranteeing their club a minimum of four more matches and an estimated bounty of at least £1million.

Levein has his sights set on becoming the first Scottish side to make it, and the early 6:30pm kick-off here in Braga means he has the chance to pip Rangers by a couple of hours, should both SPL sides triumph.

Defending a 3-1 lead from the first leg at Murrayfield, Hearts will put the emphasis on containment this evening, with McKenna the outlet when the pressure becomes too much.

Mark de Vries and Ramon Pereira were both on the flight from Edinburgh to Oporto yesterday, but Levein was very downbeat about the chances of either striker playing due to injuries. He may take a chance and put one of them on the bench, but it is McKenna who will start.

"Of course it’s a gamble, but I’ve no choice," the coach explained. "Given the system we’re going to play we need somebody who can hold the ball up front. Kevin hasn’t kicked a ball in anger this season so it will depend on how long he can last.

"He trained on Monday and Tuesday for the first time since pre-season but one thing you get from Kevin is natural enthusiasm; he’ll run his heart out to assist the cause. He’s a big strong boy and has an eye for goal and if we can get a goal over here I’m confident we won’t concede three.

"Scoring isn’t vital given the lead we’ve got, but I think we’re capable of getting a goal. I’ve studied Braga carefully and one of their weaknesses is a tendency to give the opposition opportunities, and we have to make the most of that."

McKenna can look ungainly up front at times, but his awkward style can cause problems for opponents and his goals-to-games ratio is impressive. He was the club’s top scorer in the season before De Vries arrived and also scored a hat-trick against a select side during Hearts’ summer tour of Canada. He is certainly more suited to the lone striker’s role than Dennis Wyness, who had an ineffective game in that position against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday and is likely to be among the substitutes tonight.

Nevertheless, it is a tall order to be thrust into such an important game with so little preparation. McKenna’s last outing was a pre-season friendly against Airdrie; the test posed by Braga will be far stiffer.

"I’m ready to play - as a footballer you’ve always got to be ready," he said. "But I’ve had no bounce games and Monday was my first day back at training."

McKenna had a piece of bone removed from his knee at the beginning of September after an MRI scan finally revealed the extent of the problem which had caused him to miss the start of the season. "Mentally it was draining for me because I didn’t know what was wrong," he explained. "I must have taken a knock on the knee but I don’t remember it happening."

McKenna was part of the side who pulled off the heroic win in Bordeaux in last season’s UEFA Cup when Levein used a 3-6-1 formation to stifle the French side. He may consider similar tactics tonight as he attempts to move Hearts on to a new level.

"It’s a massive game for the club and any pride I take from it will come from the achievements of the players," said the coach. "If we get through it’s the chance to pit our wits against some bigger teams. It’s the first time there’s been a group stage and we desperately want a shot at it.

"We’ve had Braga watched by four different people and I’ve watched four of their games on tape twice over, so if we don’t get through it won’t be for lack of preparation. We’re a young, enthusiastic side, but this will be a real test for them."

The result at Murrayfield notwithstanding, Braga have made a bright start to the season and are unbeaten in the Portuguese league with three draws and a victory from the first four games. Their coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, is adamant he has the players who can overturn the two- goal defeat sustained in Edinburgh. "I don’t think we might qualify, I’m confident we will qualify," he said. "We drew with Benfica in the Stadium of Light at the weekend and my team has spirit, talent and the players who can make a difference. The only thing I fear about Hearts is that they counter-attack well and we need to score goals."

Ferreira claimed he would not alter his usual tactics against Hearts. "I have nothing specially prepared for this game as I have confidence in my players and I’m optimistic we’ll go through," he said. "We’ll score the goals we need."

Around 1,500 Hearts fans are expected at the stunning Estadio Municipal and many arrived in town yesterday, receiving a warm welcome from the locals. The temperature is in the high 70s and the warm weather and early kick-off may favour the Portuguese.

The attendance could be small, however, with only around 10,000 expected despite a price-cutting campaign by Braga. Home fans can buy tickets for as little as 5, while those from Edinburgh are being charged the full price.

Hearts’ last brush with Portuguese opposition came in the European Cup in 1960 when they were defeated comprehensively by a Benfica side who went on to lift the trophy. Braga are not in the same class, and if Levein’s side can weather the early pressure then they will have a wonderful opportunity to make history tonight.

Taken from the Scotsman