Bobic believes he can be striking success for Hearts

MARTIN McMILLAN October 18 2005

George Burley, the Hearts manager, will make a decision about striker Fredi Bobic before the weekend game against Dunfermline.

Bobic, a former German internationalist, trained with the Tynecastle squad yesterday and the player, who was released by Hertha Berlin in the summer, will have to prove he is over recent injury problems.

Bobic is scheduled at training this morning, with Burley expected to make a call on the experienced 37-times capped marksman in the next 72 hours. "Fredi trained today and we have him for the next three or four days so we will just take it from there," said Burley.

With Roman Bednar, Hearts leading striker, injured and Michal Pospisil only just having recovered from a hamstring problem, there is a lack of depth in Hearts' attack.

Certainly Bobic believes his style is ideal for Scottish football. "I have kept myself fit and I'm in good shape and still have goals in me," he said. "I'm 34 but I have two or three years left and I think my style would suit the Scottish game.

"Hearts are one of my main options and, although I have opportunities to play in the Far East and Qatar, I'd rather stay in Europe. I think I can make a good impression in training and then it will be up to Hearts. In Germany, people have noticed what has happened with Hearts this season and it will be good to meet George Burley and see what his plans are."

Looking ahead, Burley is understood to be preparing a January bid for Anderlecht defender Michal Zewlako, while Bartosz Bialkowski, an 18-year-old Polish goalkeeper, could well take up Burley's attention around that time.

Simon Hunt, the Hearts' scout, is believed to have watched 29-year-old Zewlako in action last week when he played for Poland against England in a game they lost 2-1.

Zewlakow, who is in the final year of his contract with Anderlecht, and Bialkowski could be joined in the Hearts ranks by yet another Pole, international midfielder Radoslaw Sobolewski.

Hearts had a £400,000 bid for the playmaker turned down by Wislaw Krakow before the close of the transfer window in August, but Burley's interest in the player has not faded.

Taken from the Herald