Burley throws down the gauntlet to his new faces

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss George Burley today warned new signings Ibrahim Tall and Samuel Almeida Camazzola that they'll have to fight for the right to feature in the first team.

The duo arrived in Gorgie shortly before the closure of the transfer window on the say-so of owner Vladimir Romanov.

Burley revealed that neither player was on his list of preferred targets which he discussed with the Lithuanian millionaire. And he has stressed they will have to prove themselves worthy of a top-team jersey before he tinkers with the team which has swept all before them in the SPL to date.

Hearts go into tomorrow's league clash with struggling Livingston at Almondvale as league leaders after a 100 per cent start.

Tall has arrived as a prospective contender for Robbie Neilson's right-back position while Brazilian Camazzola has added competition to the midfield area.

Burley will include both in his squad as the Jambos go in search of a sixth-straight victory but his starting XI is certain to be along similar lines to the team which saw off Motherwell in the Capital a fortnight ago.

"As with any new signings, they have got to earn the right to get into the team," said Burley, who has ruled out the injured Michal Pospisil and Neil MacFarlane for the meeting with the Lions.

"They will be in the squad. We will look at things nearer the time but the team has done very well and I've been very pleased with them."

Those two injuries apart, the Hearts boss will have a full squad to choose from tomorrow, Burley having breathed a huge sigh of relief after his international contingent reported back for duty none the worse for their endeavours. "Everybody is fine and a number of them have big smiles on their faces," he said in reference to the triumphant Scottish quartet of Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Paul Hartley on their return from Oslo.

"It hasn't been ideal this week with so many away for so long but we can only keep our fingers crossed for tomorrow."

Burley was speaking after picking up his Bank of Scotland Manager of the Month Award for August, midfielder Rudi Skacel having also lifted the Player of the Month honour as we revealed in yesterday's Evening News.

The Gorgie boss was quick to play down the award, insisting it was a team effort.

"These awards are not about individuals but about teams," he said. "I got the award because of the team and my coaching staff as well."

Goal-a-game midfielder Skacel has taken the SPL by storm since his arrival on loan from Marseille and Burley admitted he's keen to make his stay at Tynecastle a permanent one.

The 26-year-old, who has blasted five goals in the opening five SPL matches is here initially for a year but has already been attracting interest from the Continent.

Burley, though, keen to hang on to one of his prize assets.

"I enjoy working with people like Rudi who is willing to listen and learn and he has done tremendously well," he said.

"Any long-term transfer has got to be right for both parties. He has just arrived and he has to wait and see how things develop but I have already said to Mr Romanov that I would like to keep him here on a longer basis."

Taken from the Scotsman