Pospisil sizes up title as Hearts' springboard to Euro elite

MICHAL Pospisil hopes that he will realise his dream of playing in the Champions League group stages by helping Hearts to domestic success.

The Czech striker has endured an injury-plagued start to his Tynecastle career but has returned to full fitness following a series of hamstring problems. Compatriots Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar are already hugely popular among the Hearts supporters and Pospisil is desperate to follow in their footsteps after returning at the beginning of the month.

Pospisil has an appetite for Europe's premier competition after sampling the qualifying stages of the Champions League with former club Sparta Prague three years ago. The player, whose only goal of the campaign to date came in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen in August, believes Premierleague leaders Hearts are capable of gaining entry.

"We will see what happens but I don't see why we can't maintain this challenge," he said. "Rangers are currently playing in the Champions League and we beat them. We drew with Celtic and they play in the Champions League every year.

"I hope we can play in the Champions League as well because it's my dream. I played in the qualifying stages with Sparta Prague but we were put out. We lost 2-0 against Racing Genk in Belgium and then won 4-2 at home. It was disappointing.

"I am enjoying it in Scotland, the only problem I have had is my injury but I feel better now. I now want to show the supporters what I can do, I feel good and ready."

Pospisil is set to start against Dunfermline at Tynecastle this afternoon with Bednar still out following a cartilage operation. Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to replace Steve Banks after suspension ruled him out of last weekend's 1-1 draw against Celtic at Parkhead.

Greek international left-back Takis Fyssas is a doubt with a knee problem that has hampered him for over a month.

Lee Wallace is out with a foot injury while Stephen Simmons is also struggling with a back problem.

Dunfermline, meanwhile, are this afternoon aiming to end a 15-year wait for a Tynecastle victory. Jim Leishman's side have taken just five points from ten matches and have yet to record a win away from home this season. However, a sickness bug which swept through East End Park last week now appears to have subsided, leaving Leishman with a full squad to choose from for only the first time this campaign.

Taken from the Scotsman