Hartley hopes to be Italian hit man

PAUL KIDDIE

PAUL HARTLEY may have only been on the international scene for a matter of months but he's already desperate to make up for lost time.

The Hearts star saw his dream of representing his country come true in fairytale fashion when Walter Smith handed him his debut in the cauldron of the San Siro as Scotland went head to head with Italy in their World Cup qualifier in March.

Although the visitors went down 2-0 on a rain-lashed evening in Milan thanks to a double from Andrea Pirlo, Tynecastle playmaker Hartley acquitted himself well during the 76 minutes of his baptism of fire.

He retained his place for the visit to Hampden Park of Moldova in early June when second-half strikes from Christian Dailly and James McFadden gave the Scots their first win in Group Five at the fifth attempt.

A second-half booking, though, ruled the Gorgie star out of his country's trip to Minsk and the goalless draw with Belarus in the Dinamo Stadium four days later.

The 28-year-old had been hoping to reclaim his jersey in the recent friendly in Austria but an injury sustained in the Jambos' SPL 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice meant he was reporting for treatment at the club's Riccarton academy rather than jetting off to Graz.

Having missed the 2-2 draw in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, Hartley no doubt vowed privately "I'll be back" for the critical phase of the Scots' qualifying campaign.

The next seven days will decide if the Tartan Army can retain hopes of marching on Germany next year, Norway providing the opposition in Oslo next Wednesday as the second half of a daunting double-header.

It's make or break time for Scotland and Hartley's goal threat from the middle of the park should see him re-installed into the Scots' engine room this weekend as the hosts go in search of the victory to keep alive the World Cup dream.

"It was disappointing to miss the game in Austria but I had a couple of niggling knocks after the game against Dundee United at Tannadice," he said.

"Obviously I would like to be involved this weekend having made my debut against the Italians in the San Siro but I'll just have to wait and see what the gaffer decides."

Hartley looked to be on his way out of Hearts prior to the arrival of George Burley as manager.

The former Ipswich and Derby County boss was recruited as the man to lead Vladimir Romanov's on-field revolution in Gorgie and he has masterminded an incredible upturn in the club's fortunes, Hearts sitting five points clear at the top of the SPL after five straight wins and sell-out crowds for every home game so far at Tynecastle.

The feel-good factor at Hearts convinced Hartley his future lay with the Jambos, the midfielder recently penning a new long-term deal which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2008.

According to Hartley, the positive vibes currently benefiting the Jambos is also coursing through the Scotland ranks under new boss Smith, the former Rangers and Everton manager having proved a popular successor to Berti Vogts.

Hartley has been struck by the spirit within the international camp since his induction some six months ago and he said: "Everybody knows how hard a task we have got in the next two matches but we'll give it our best shot and see what happens.

"In the second half against Italy in the San Siro we passed the ball well and it was the best we had played as a Scotland team for a while.

"That was a tough examination for us and I'm sure Saturday will be the same. But we are ready for it. There is definitely a feel-good factor surrounding the Scotland squad at the moment. That is something which I have noticed since being involved over the last few months. There is a new manager in place and there is definitely a good spirit in the camp. Being away with the international squad is a bit like being with Hearts at the moment.

"The spirit in the camp is great and I can see the similarities with Hearts as there is definitely a feel good factor at Tynecastle."

Azzurri boss Marcelo Lippi looks set to unleash a three-pronged attack on Saturday, with Roma's Francesco Totti and AC Milan pair Alberto Gilardino and Christian Vieri poised to lead the front line. A key player for the home side will be 22-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon and while the Italians possess formidable firepower in the final third of the park, Hartley is confident his Tynecastle team-mate is the ideal last line of defence and fully merits his status as Scotland's No.1.

Gordon produced a breathtaking save in the dying seconds of Saturday's league clash with Motherwell on Saturday to secure a 2-1 win and maintain his side's impressive 100 per cent start to the SPL season.

He is one of four Jambos in Smith's squad which has assembled this week at its luxury Loch Lomond retreat ahead of the double-header - Steven Pressley is suspended on Saturday but the young keeper, Andy Webster and Hartley could all be involved.

"There are a number of us in the squad this week and we'll go to Hampden full of confidence as we have started the season really well," said the midfielder.

"The lads have been defending well over the past few weeks and I'm sure they were disappointed to lose a goal against Motherwell on Saturday. But Craig showed what a magnificent goalkeeper he is with his tremendous late save which won us the game.

"He is without doubt Scotland's No.1. He is different class and has hardly made a mistake since he came into the Hearts team and that shows just how good he is.

"We can all switch off from the league now after taking maximum points from our opening five games. But there are some big matches coming up with Scotland against the Italians and then Norway and it's important we get results from them.

"I think we'll need at least four points. If we can do that then I think we'll still be in with a chance of getting to Germany."

Taken from the Scotsman