Hartley the best Burley signing, says Calderwood

SCOTT DAVIE

GEORGE Burley has used Vladimir Romanov's money to acquire a string of impressive foreign footballers, but Jimmy Calderwood believes that persuading Paul Hartley to agree a new long-term contract is the Hearts manager's best bit of business to date.

Lithuanian banker Romanov has funded a summer spending spree that has brought international players like Czech midfielder Rudi Skacel, Greek Euro 2004 winner Panagiotas Fyssas and Lithuanian striker Edgar Jankauskas to Tynecastle.

But Calderwood would argue that the most significant manoeuvre of them all was convincing someone who has just broken into the Scotland squad to remain, especially given the interest of Celtic in Hartley.

The Aberdeen manager was not surprised by that as he has been a long-term admirer of the midfielder his assistant Jimmy Nicholl signed when in charge at both Millwall and Raith Rovers.

Only an inability to meet the asking price prevented Calderwood from taking Hartley from St Johnstone to Dunfermline a few years back, and he is convinced the player is an even more influential figure now.

His other regret is the speed with which the Scotland international has recovered from the injury which kept him out of the midweek friendly in Austria to take his place against the Pittodrie club this afternoon.

Calderwood made it clear earlier this week that he did not expect Hearts to sustain their embryonic challenge to the Old Firm duopoly but, if his view is to soften, then Hartley could be the catalyst.

He said: "I think Paul is their most important signing because it's not all about the players you are bringing in, it's also being able to keep the ones you want that are already there.

"We have been able to do that with the likes of Russell Anderson and Zander Diamond agreeing deals last season which means we have them for the next few years and you can build around that.

"It's a good bit of business getting Paul signed to a long-term deal because he gives them a lot of flair as a very good player who is still improving.

"He has given Hearts extra class and I don't think they are the same team when he is not playing because Paul has lots of quality as well as the ability to score goals.

"He never gives you a minute's rest, so it would have been good for us if he had remained injured for another few days, at least until a few days after we had played them."

Calderwood is looking for his first win as a manager at Tynecastle, while Aberdeen are looking for their first victory at the ground in 11 attempts after picking up just two points and scoring a single goal in their last ten visits.

Despite those statistics, Calderwood is confident about upsetting the odds after last weekend's victory over Rangers, their first in 26 attempts, and is undaunted by Hearts' excellent start to the season.

He has been possibly the least impressed of anyone, dismissing the SPL leaders' championship credentials, questioning their style of play and claiming there is little sign of improvement from last season.

He clearly believes Hearts have been hyped and has warned them to enjoy it while they can, as he is quietly confident of providing stiff opposition to emerge as the third force in Scottish football.

He added: "I think we will get a better idea about things once everyone has played each other as it's too early to judge things at the moment.

"The only reason we don't have the same hype as Hearts at the moment is because we lost at home to Kilmarnock which has left people putting a question mark against us.

"We will let them have their glory for the moment and see how things are at the end of the season as there is a long way to go.

"I would rather be in their position at the top of the league because that breeds confidence in players, but the test is if they lose two games.

"That's when the questions get asked. While everything is fine at the moment, they may as well enjoy it, because there is always someone ready to kick you up the backside when you least expect it."

Aberdeen's chances of doing that will be enhanced by teenage defender Andrew Considine's return from injury but Richie Byrne's comeback has been put on hold after suffering a recurrence of his groin problem in training yesterday.

Fellow long-term injury victims Michael Hart and Darren Mackie are also missing, with Considine the only addition to the squad which did so well against Rangers last weekend.

Taken from the Scotsman