Hughes praises former team-mate

DARREN JOHNSTONE

FALKIRK manager John Hughes' and Tynecastle counterpart George Burley's paths briefly crossed during the Bairns' First Division title triumph of 1994, now Hughes is desperate to derail his former team-mate's SPL championship push.

The pair will lock horns for the first time tomorrow when Burley takes his table-topping Hearts team to Westfield. Hughes featured alongside Burley for one game in January 1994 but insists the right-back made an impression in just one month at the club.

However, both Hughes and Burley will be seeking maximum points for very different reasons tomorrow.

Hearts will be looking to stretch their five point lead at the summit but Falkirk, who are second bottom, have already taken points off Rangers at Westfield and have the incentive of becoming the first side to stain the Edinburgh outfit's perfect start.

Hughes said: "I'd say this is our biggest test because they are flying. All credit to them, I'm delighted for them, I really am. I've talked them up but let me tell you something, I will be wanting their scalp.

"I first came across George Burley in season 1993/94 when we won the First Division. George came in for a wee while and you could see that he was a good lad. He conducted himself very well and was always there with a little bit of advice so I was really pleased for him.

"Jim Jefferies got a chance to bring him in as a player and it was good to have him about, he steadied the ship a little bit."

Hughes was reacquainted with Burley during pre-season when he watched Hearts in action at Berwick Rangers.

Vladimir Romanov's running of Hearts has caused as much of a stir as the team's early success and Hughes admits he is intrigued by the make-up of the new regime.

"I bumped into him in pre-season and I was talking to him. It was before they started bringing in a number of players. I was asking how he was enjoying it and how things were going and he told me he would find out in the next couple of weeks. In that time they brought in four or five players and they are all top quality. But all credit to them, they are riding very high."

Burley himself repaid the compliment by reminiscing fondly of Hughes - though he did claim humorously there had been a downside to his short spell with the club. "I went training there for one week and played one game for Falkirk - and Jim Jefferies still hasn't paid my expenses," he said.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Matt Glennon could be forgiven for thinking he will be the busiest man in Scottish football this weekend as he prepares to face a Hearts team that have already scored 21 goals this season.

"We can see for ourselves [today] what everyone is going on about with regards to Hearts. We will be able to find out how good they really are."

Taken from the Scotsman