Jankauskas strike seals deal

The Lithuanian could sign as early as tomorrow, becoming the first of a batch of acquisitions that Burley intends to make before the Premierleague campaign begins against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park next weekend. “We hope to finalise a deal with Jankauskas on Monday,” said Burley. “He played 20 minutes against Middlesbrough in midweek, got another hour or so against Hull and is looking better with every game.”

Czech international Rudi Skacel arrived on loan on Tuesday and Burley added: “It is going to be a busy week. I said when I arrived I wanted six new players and that hasn’t changed. Whether we can sign five in time or not I don’t know but I certainly hope to complete several deals next week.”

Having fielded six foreign trialists in the draw with Middlesbrough last Wednesday, Burley used the visit to East Yorkshire to further assess Jankauskas and Sebastien Schemmel, the former Portsmouth right-back who was on trial at Celtic earlier this summer. Skipper Steven Pressley was paraded by the Gorgie club on Friday having agreed to sign his new two-year deal after resolving certain “issues” with his new contract and assumed his usual place in the back line.

The contingent of travelling Hearts’ fans who had hoped to catch further glimpses of Czech strikers Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil headed home disappointed with both trailists left redundant. They may not have to wait too long to see them in Maroon however with Burley understood to be close to securing deals.

The visitors were first to threaten after seven minutes, Jamie McAllister’s 35-yard free-kick forcing Bo Myhill to save to his right. Hearts produced what quality football was on display in the opening period and they deservedly went ahead after 23 minutes, when Calum Elliot’s driven cross-shot was turned into the net from close range by Jankauskas Myhill saved again from McAllister on the half-hour mark but two minutes later poor marking at a corner almost cost Hearts, with Hull centre-half Leon Cort left unmarked in the area although he could not direct his header on target.

Peter Taylor, the Hull manager, made eight substitutions at the interval but the best the home side could muster in the second half were shots from distance by Ryan Francet and former Motherwell winger Stuart Elliott.

Stephen Simmons, who replaced Jankauskas on 62 minutes, headed narrowly over the top eight minutes from time and the midfielder came close again seconds later.

STAR MAN: Lee Wallace (Hearts)

Player ratings: Hull City: Myhill 7, Lynch 6, Cort 7, Delaney 6, Edge 6, Green 6, Ashbee 6, Woodhouse 6, Ellison 6, Barmby 6, Fagan 6.

Hearts: Gordon 6, Schemmel 6, Pressley 7, Webster 7, Wallace 8, Mikoliunas 6, MacFarlane 6, Hartley 7, McAllister 8, Elliot 7, Jankauskas 7.

Scorers: Hearts: Jankauskas 23

Referee: M Atkinson Attendance 8,825

Taken from timesonline.co.uk