BURLEY HAILS HEARTS STARS

Hearts manager George Burley has revealed his pride in the Gorgie side's contribution to Scotland's World Cup qualifying win in Norway.

Craig Gordon, Andy Webster, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley all featured prominently for Walter Smith's side as the Scots gave themselves a World Cup lifeline with a terrific 2-1 victory in Oslo.

And as he looked forward to the Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Livingston at Almondvale on Sunday, Burley said: "The win over Norway can only be good for the whole of Scottish football.

"It can have a snowball effect. With the national side doing well there is more interest in the game, which is great.

"As far as Hearts are concerned we are proud to have four players who played a major part in Wednesday night's success.

"Apart from our players, there is only Barry Ferguson who plays in the SPL and that is tremendous."

Burley was named Bank of Scotland manager of the month for August while midfielder Rudi Skacel picked up the award for player of the month.

The Hearts boss, however, preferred to concentrate on the teamwork which has taken the Edinburgh club to the top of the table.

He said: "Rudi and myself will be the first people to say that football is not an individual game, it's all about the team.

"Certainly I got the reward because of the team and my coaching staff.

"Of course, it's nice to get individual awards but at the end of the day the team will always come first and it's the team that wins games, not individuals or the manager."

Skacel, on a year-long loan from Marseilles, caught the eye with goals in five consecutive league matches.

Burley praised the on-loan midfielder and admitted he would like to extend Skacel's stay at Tynecastle

He said: "He's done tremendously well and I enjoy working with people like Rudi because he listens, learns and want to go out there and express themselves.

"Any long-term transfer has to be right for both parties but he's just arrived and we've got to see how he develops.

"I've already said to Mr Romanov (Hearts' owner Vladimir) that I would like to keep him on a longer basis but it's early days.

"It was his first day training in the rain so maybe he will change his mind."

Taken from sportinglife.com