Hearts to rely on Kisnorbo

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss John Robertson today admitted he will continue to rely on Patrick Kisnorbo this season despite the Australian admitting he will leave the club in the summer.

The 23-year-old is set to link up again with former Tynecastle manager Craig Levein at Leicester having signed a pre-contract agreement with the Foxes.

The versatile midfielder will head south in the footsteps of Mark de Vries and Alan Maybury when his current deal in the Capital expires in five months’ time.

Unlike his two former team-mates, however, Kisnorbo plans to see out the remainder of his time at Hearts before tackling a new challenge in England.

The news of his imminent departure came as a blow for Robertson, whose first-team squad is already down to the bare bones.

In De Vries’ latter days with Hearts, the Gorgie chief had questioned the Dutchman’s commitment to the club once the player had learned of Leicester’s approach.

However, he has every faith that the Aussie has sufficient strength of character to continue to give his all for the maroon jersey between now and the end of the season.

"To be fair his representative Dave McPherson told me Paddy has agreed a pre-contract with Leicester," he said.

"Due to the situation at Hearts there is nothing I could do to prevent him doing that. But I have no worries about Paddy giving his all between now and May.

"He is a very conscientious character and has kept us informed all along about what has been happening.

"There may be one or two players whose mental state I would worry about if they agreed to sign for someone else and continued to play here. But I have no concerns whatsoever about Paddy on that score."

The former South Melbourne star is fighting to shake off a knee injury ahead of Saturday’s visit of Dundee United.

He sat out training earlier this week but Robertson was hoping to see him participate in today’s session at the Riccarton football academy.

"Paddy took a bang on the knee against Partick Thistle but hopefully he will be okay after a couple of days’ treatment."

Canadian Kevin McKenna is also causing concern after injuring his ankle early in the first half of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup tie at Firhill.

New owner-in-waiting Vladimir Romanov, meanwhile, is reported to be ready to bankroll contracts for four of Lithuania’s rising stars.

The quartet are understood to have impressed during the training camp at Heriot-Watt, the squad having flown back to Kaunas yesterday after playing three games against the Jambos reserves and youths.

The deals, which should be finalised next week, will take the players up to the summer when their positions will be reviewed again.

The arrival of the four youngsters will not affect the money available for Robertson during the January transfer window, chairman George Foulkes revealed today.

He said: "Their arrival will not change anything as far as John’s ability to make new signings this month."

Taken from the Scotsman