Goal streaks mean squat to Skacel

PAUL KIDDIE

SCOTTISH football's man of the moment, Rudi Skacel, today tried to play down his sensational scoring streak for Hearts, insisting: "Records mean nothing to me."

Very much an unknown quantity to fans in this country when George Burley signed him on loan from Marseille in the summer, the Czech star has exploded on to the SPL scene by smashing a goal in each of the Jambos' seven league games this season. His form has been key to the Gorgie outfit's march to the top of the table and has demonstrated just why Burley was keen to make him his first signing for the club after taking over the Tynecastle hot seat.

Seven goals in seven games is a return any striker in the world would be proud of but it's water off a duck's back for the modest former Slavia Prague star who refuses to get carried away by the hype currently surrounding him. His first-half strike against Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday saw him beat Gorgie legend John Robertson's feat of finding the back of the net in six successive matches and took him to within two of matching both Tommy White and Barney Battles, who hold the club record of nine-in-a-row.

"That sort of thing is not important to me," he said. "Records are for the fans. They are nice but really not that important.

"Every goal I score is fantastic for me on a personal level but getting three points from a game is more important in my opinion."

When he opened his account for the season in the opening-day victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park at the end of July, the 26-year-old could scarcely have imagined the impact he, or his team-mates for that matter, would make on the top flight.

Hibs, Dundee United, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Livingston and now Inverness have all succumbed to the midfield talisman, who bagged five goals in the course of last season for Greek side Panathinaikos.

Although Hearts have an important CIS Cup date with Livingston at Almondvale tomorrow evening, champions Rangers are now well and truly in Skacel's sights.

Victory against the Glasgow giants would see the league leaders carve open an 11-point advantage over their visitors and perhaps once and for all convince sceptics that they are indeed serious championship contenders.

Skacel will once again be heavily favoured to stretch his breathtaking run of goals when Alex McLeish brings his squad to the Capital this weekend but the loan star would happily see his glorious sequence come to a halt if it meant the home side chalking up an eighth straight triumph.

"If we can take three points every week, I won't mind who is scoring the goals," he said.

"I wouldn't mind my run stopping on Saturday as long as we beat Rangers.

"It was very nice to score again at Inverness but the important thing for me is that team managed to get the victory we wanted." Riding high on the crest of a wave at the moment, Skacel is feeling the best he has ever done since embarking on a professional career with Hradec Kralove back in his homeland.

Even a booking from referee Mike McCurry for celebrating his latest strike in front of the home fans in the Caledonian Stadium failed to take the shine off what was a victory achieved despite Hearts failing to hit the heights of previous weeks. Such results can be important, though, in any final analysis.

"We weren't at our best on Saturday against Inverness so to get an important win like that was especially important," he said. "The team worked hard as a unit and we are all very happy with the start we have made. The booking was just one of those things but I was just delighted to score again.

"This is the best I have felt in my career. Seven goals in seven games is a superb feeling for me and I'm really looking forward to the visit of Rangers, although we have a cup tie against Livingston tomorrow which we want to win as well."

The midfielder's form this season propelled him back into the plans of Czech Republic boss Karel Bruckner, Skacel adding to his one cap won against Canada in the recent friendly with Sweden and the World Cup qualifier against Armenia.

He was handed his first start for his country against the Armenians but it seems did little in the first half of the game to convince his national coach of his abilities.

"His performance was weak, very weak," said Bruckner.

"I had good references about him from Scotland, but he disappointed me.

"He simply could not keep up the pace. Football on the international circuit is played at a higher pace."

Skacel was philosophical about the criticism, preferring to praise Hearts for opening the door to international football again rather than taking a pop at Bruckner.

"The Czech national team is very strong and I hope to get another chance," he said.

"It is important for me to play well for Hearts every week and I am thankful to Hearts for giving me the opportunity to play for my country again.

"Things are going great at Tynecastle, we're top of the league and I'm very happy with things."

Currently the toast of Tynecastle, Skacel's performances for the league leaders haven't gone unnoticed back in the Czech Republic, the name of Hearts now being mentioned in the same breath as Celtic and Rangers among football fans.

"Two months ago everybody only knew about Celtic and Rangers back home," said the midfielder, who also has compatriots Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil for company in Gorgie. "But now people are asking about Hearts and talking about what we are doing which is great."

Burley knew his midfield star had an eye for goal when he brought him to Tynecastle but even his manager is pleasantly surprised at just how he has adapted to life in the SPL.

"Goals from the midfield are very important if strikers are not scoring," said the Hearts boss.

"We have scored 20 goals this season which is not a bad record after seven games. The key to our success has been how every one has worked as a team, the defenders, midfielders and forwards.

"They have been taking things on board during training and have improved immensely."

Taken from the Scotsman