Goal get my record, Rudi

PAUL KIDDIE

PROLIFIC Hearts star Rudi Skacel has taken the SPL by storm this season, blasting goals in each of his side's opening six league matches.

The Czech's opening effort against Livingston at the weekend helped the Jambos continue their 100 per cent start to the campaign, George Burley's league leaders enjoying a five-point lead over the chasing pack which includes Celtic, Hibs and Kilmarnock.

It is a remarkable achievement for the midfielder, who has only been at Tynecastle since signing on a year's loan from Marseille in July.

He is now within touching distance of the club record for goals in successive games shared by 1930s hero Barney Battles and 1960s star Tommy White, both players having found the back of the net in nine consecutive matches.

A powerful striker in his time, White spent just two seasons in maroon but made a huge impression on supporters and opposition defences.

Originally from Musselburgh but now retired in Blackpool, he has marvelled from afar at the start which Hearts have enjoyed under Burley and in particular the stunning impact which Skacel has made on the SPL.

"The lad has done magnificently," he said. "I scored in nine games in succession for Hearts which was very pleasing but that was my job, to be fair. I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time on many occasions.

"To score so many as a midfield player is a tremendous effort. I got a few goals in my time at Tynecastle but wasn't aware that I had any sort of record. Hopefully Skacel can go on and beat it now and the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

"Records are there to be broken and it would be marvellous to be at Tynecastle the day he did it!"

White made his debut for Hearts in a scoreless draw against Dundee United at Tannadice in November 1963, then opened his account with a double against Rangers in a 3-0 triumph at Ibrox two weeks later.

That proved the catalyst for an incredible scoring streak for the forward who went on to notch 26 goals in 28 appearances that season - 20 of them coming in just 18 games. As his confidence grew with every effort which found the back of the net, so he believes Skacel will now be going into each game thinking he can score.

"I wasn't the sort of chap who had loads of chances in matches but was able to put away the one or two which would come my way. I just wasn't the type who would make five or six openings for myself.

"I scored some daft ones as well and was willing to put my head in sometimes where others wouldn't and the more my confidence grew the more speculative attempts I'd try which would sometimes go in.

"What Skacel has done from the middle of the park this season has been brilliant and a real bonus for the team. I am sure at the start of all this he hadn't been going into games thinking about scoring but maybe that's changed now that he's suddenly found himself on a bit of run."

Despite the league leaders having smashed 19 goals en route to six wins in succession, Burley's foreign imports such as Edgaras Jankauskas, Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil have yet to fire on all cylinders.

Skacel's blistering form in front of goal, though, could have a knock-on effect for his team-mates, according to White.

"I am sure the strikers have been watched carefully by opposition defences," he said. "Due to the form which Skacel is showing, maybe managers will be paying more attention to him and that might make it more difficult for him to continue in this way. But the other side of that is that perhaps the front men will find themselves given more space as a result." White was badly injured in a car crash in Wallyford in 1964 and was subsequently transferred to Aberdeen the following year in a swap deal which saw Don Kerrigan head in the opposite direction. He went on to play for Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Bury and Crewe before hanging up his boots in 1972.

His heart, though, remains firmly in Gorgie and he would like nothing better than to see the league championship flag once again flying over Tynecastle.

"If I hadn't had that crash I think I would have stayed a lot longer at Hearts. The sudden death of my brother John [ex-Tottenham and Scotland] also had a terrible effect on my family," he said. "But coming from Musselburgh and having had two brothers who played football, playing for one of the Edinburgh clubs, particularly Hearts, was a great honour," he said.

"As soon as I came to Tynecastle I knew I was part of a good club. I could just feel it. I'm sure it's the same for the new guys at Tynecastle this season.

"I had some great team-mates like Jim Cruickshank, Alan Anderson, Alan Gordon, Willie Wallace, Billy Higgins and John Cumming and I wish I could have stayed a number of years longer.

"I don't think I realised just how good they were until I left to play for other teams. It's important the guys who have signed for Hearts appreciate the depth of feeling the supporters have for the club and it would be great if they could keep this excellent start going.

"They don't appear to be the kind of players who'll get twitchy about being at the top. That may come, of course, later in the season if they are still there but I'm sure George Burley's professionalism will not let them get carried away by all that has happened."

He added: "I just have a wee feeling they could go all the way this season as Celtic and Rangers don't appear to have got it quite right yet. It is important to have a bit of luck with injuries, though, and the continuity of selection will be invaluable to him."

While surprised to see Burley return north of the Border after his success at Ipswich and Derby, White was delighted to see his former club attract a manager of such stature.

Impressed by the start he has made, he knows that continued success could be a double-edged sword for the Gorgie outfit under the experienced Scot. "George did a fantastic job down here but I don't think he could stand all the boardroom politics and behind-the-scenes stuff," he said.

"The worry for Hearts fans is that he could be poached, possibly by one of the Old Firm, or a team back in England.

"For now, though, the fans will just want to enjoy what's happening. It's great George has accepted the challenge at Tynecastle and I wish him the very best of luck."

Taken from the Scotsman