Jam tarts in pole position

HEARTS boss George Burley is preparing a swoop for Polish international full-back Michal Zewlakow when the January transfer window opens.

The 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract with Belgian cracks Anderlecht and is believed to be keen to leave next summer in pursuit of a fresh challenge.

He would be available for a knockdown fee and Burley is understood to have added the defender's name to his new year shopping list for the consideration of Vladimir Romanov.

Tynecastle assistant Simon Hunt is understood to have watched the right-back play on the left for his country against England in last week's World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford. Despite regular right-back Robbie Neilson playing consistently well this season and Senegalese internationalist Ibrahim Tall having arrived prior to the closure of the summer transfer window, Burley is still keen to bring more strength in depth to that area of the field.

Burley is also keen on Zewlakow's international team-mate Radoslaw Sobolewski, the Gorgie chief having seen a previous £400,000 bid to lure the midfielder from Wislaw Krakow fail. German strike star Fredi Bobic, meanwhile, has arrived in the Capital for a brief trial with the Jambos.

He was due to meet up with the first-team squad at the club's Riccarton academy today as Burley assesses whether the 37-times capped forward is fit enough to join the league leaders' title push. Bobic, who flew into Edinburgh last night, hasn't played since being released by Hertha Berlin in the summer. Providing he shows up well enough over the next couple of days, he could soon become the latest recruit to the Romanov Revolution.

"We are very short in the striking department and we'll be taking a look at him this week," said Burley.

Bobic's arrival will add to the feel-good factor in Gorgie, Hearts having stretched their unbeaten start to the SPL season with a richly deserved 1-1 draw against Celtic. "To go ten games undefeated in any league is a tremendous achievement," said the Hearts boss. "All credit to the lads. I knew our shape had to be right. They have a lot of quality in midfield but we nullified that and didn't allow them any room.

Taken from the Scotsman