Bar raised for Hearts 'Veteran'

PAUL KIDDIE

THE news that boss George Burley is now actively pursuing a right-back as part of his burgeoning Tynecastle recruitment drive was probably not what Hearts star Robbie Neilson was wanting to hear.

Having already signed seven new players in rapid succession since being installed in the Gorgie hot seat, the new manager is showing little sign of slowing down in his bid to construct a squad to his satisfaction.

Despite having Scotland internationalist Jamie McAllister and impressive youngster Lee Wallace at his disposal for the left-back berth, Burley clinched one of the club's biggest signings with his capture of Greece's Euro 2004 winner Takis Fyssas, below right, earlier this week.

While Burley insisted the 46-times capped former Benfica and Panathinaikos defender will not automatically stroll into the Jambos rearguard, it is unlikely he has arrived in the Capital just to make up the numbers.

The Hearts boss has now trained his sights on the other flank. With former West Ham star Sebastien Schemmel and PSV Eindhoven's Michael Lamey having already been considered, the calibre of player that Burley is seeking for Neilson's position is quite evident.

Had the full-back experienced a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach after learning of Burley's next signing priority immediately after landing Fyssas, it would have been perfectly understandable.

However, the 25-year-old has been around long enough - he's the club's longest-serving player having been at Tynecastle since 1996 - not to let such things unduly bother him.

And, having started Burley's first two games of the season as the Jambos pocketed maximum points from meetings against Kilmarnock and Hibs en route to the summit of the SPL, Neilson will not be giving up his jersey without a fight.

"New players have been coming to the club on a pretty regular basis over the past couple of weeks or so," he said.

"They have given the team a lift and added a lot of strength to the squad.

"The boss has said he's looking to bring in even more and has mentioned the right-back position. If he does bring someone in then I'll just have to keep my head down and continue to do the best I can and hopefully give the manager a problem when it comes to picking the team.

"When there is somebody waiting in the wings to take your place it means you have to stay on top of your game.

"It gives that wee bit of competition which is good for a team. I have started the first two games of the season and want to stay in the side as long as I can but there is no doubt the boss is wanting a squad which has a lot of strength in depth.

"That is what Rangers and Celtic have and, if we want to get closer to them, then that is what we will need as well.

"If that means bringing foreigners in then so be it."

The 4-0 thumping of Hibs on Sunday will see Hearts head to Tayside for this weekend's clash with Dundee United on the crest of a wave - the Tangerines have allocated 5000 seats for the visitors in anticipation of a huge travelling support on Sunday.

United ,ay be tired after a tough Uefa Cup tie last night, drawing 0-0 with Finns MyPa 47.

Neilson, though, has urged the Gorgie faithful not to get carried away following the derby demolition of Tony Mowbray's outfit.

Delighted as he is at the progress being made by the team - and the sight of the Jambos looking down on the rest of the SPL - the full-back has stressed that absolutely nothing has been achieved as yet with the season having barely started.

"It was a great result last weekend but at the end of the day it was just another three points for us," he said. "We played well and won convincingly in the end.

"The manager, though, tried to keep us calm and, while we are sitting on top of the league with six points from the first two games, there are no medals handed out in August."

Burley will take his men to Tannadice looking for a third straight win in the league and Neilson is determined to maintain the Jambos' excellent start for as long as possible. A good result this weekend will set Hearts up nicely for two home games against Aberdeen and Motherwell and the Gorgie star said: "The aim has to be to see how long we can go undefeated. That's two wins out of two but we are keeping our feet on the ground.

"It is early days, there is a long, long way to go but it is good to have the points in the bag."

Gordon Chisholm's outfit will have to shake off the effects of their UEFA Cup trip to Finland before tackling the table-topping Jambos.

Having enjoyed the experience of his own side's European odyssey last season, Neilson knows all about the extra strain such matches can put on squads - but he doesn't expect it to have an adverse effect on Sunday's opponents."It's a bad day when players don't want to play in Europe," he said. "Doing so gives everyone a boost and I don't think all the travelling and such like will be much of an issue this weekend. Europe is a nice break from the league and United will be wanting to bounce back from their loss to Celtic last weekend.

"We lost there towards the end of last season with a late goal which was a bit of a sickener.

"But we are confident at the moment and will go there looking for another good result."

Hearts will head north boosted by the re-signing of Scotland star Paul Hartley, the midfielder having committed to a new lucrative three-year deal.

Impressed as he has been with Burley's foreign arrivals, the success in retaining the midfield maestro is a superb piece of business as far as Neilson is concerned.

He said: "Paul's one of the top players in Scotland and it's great we have managed to tie him down on an extension. It's important to keep our best players as the club tries to move forward."

Taken from the Scotsman