Deividas dilemma for Robbo

GRAEME CROSER

HEARTS boss John Robertson was today pondering whether to hand new signing Deividas Cesnauskis his debut in tonight’s Scottish Cup replay at Kilmarnock.

The Lithuanian midfielder trained with the Hearts squad for the first time on Monday and, having turned out for his country in last week’s friendly international against Georgia, there are no doubts over his match fitness.

The 23-year-old’s pedigree is not in question either, with 17 caps to his name and Champions League experience with Lokomotiv Moscow from whom he has been signed until the end of the season.

Nevertheless, Robertson is wary of breaking up a winning team, particularly one which defeated Killie 3-0 in such convincing fashion on league business at the weekend.

The coach may hand the new boy a place on the bench, but even then conceded he was in two minds.

He said: "Deividas has only done a couple of days’ training so we have to decide whether it’s right to throw him in.

"It’s a hard one - do you give him his chance or wait for a league game to break him in?

"We also have to bear in mind the fact the team did so well on Saturday and it might be unwise to change it.

"It might be we decide to put him on the bench but, then again, there are only five substitutes allowed for cup games so that could be a factor as well.

"It’s a decision we have to make but he is available and obviously he is a big part of our plans."

A debut glimpse of Cesnauskis would add an extra edge to tonight’s contest for a travelling support who will witness the third consecutive game between the teams.

Jamie McAllister misses the match through suspension but Andy Webster returns after serving his own two-game SPL ban.

Normally, the Scotland defender could expect to walk straight back into the side but Robertson admitted the form of Christophe Berra in his absence has given him another selection dilemma.

He continued: "There’s no guarantee that Andy will walk back into the side. Young Christophe did very well at the weekend and he’s also very much in contention.

"We’re building a young side now, with guys like Christophe and Lee Wallace also coming to the fore.

"The likes of Andy, Craig Gordon, Robbie Neilson, Saulius Mikoliunas, Stephen Simmons, Lee Miller and Deividas are also in their early to mid-twenties which is great to see.

We know our opponents will be smarting after the weekend game - that wasn’t the real Kilmarnock.

"We set ourselves a standard on Saturday and it’s up to the players to maintain that tonight."

Taken from the Scotsman