I'D HATE TO LOSE RUDI TO BREMEN

ANDY WEBSTER hailed crackshot Rudi Skacel as Hearts' answer to Henrik Larsson and admitted they're desperate not to lose him in the January transfer window The Czech midfielder fired the Jambos back to the top of the SPL, two points clear of Celtic who play Aberdeen today, with a glorious first-half double to take his tally to 13 for the season.

And it underlined just why German cracks Werder Bremen are understood to be lining up a £1.5 million bid to lure him away from Tynecastle next month.

Skacel is on loan from Marseille for a year but the French club can break that agreement if the right bid comes in.

If that situation arises in January it will be a body blow to Hearts' hopes of maintaining their title challenge - and one Webster insists doesn't bear thinking about.

He said: "A lot of what is being said about Rudi is speculation - many things in newspapers don't turn out to be true and I'm certainly hoping that will be the case with Rudi.

"He has done exceptionally well. To play midfield and score the number of goals he has is a phenomenal record.

"He's top of the scoring charts in the SPL with 13 goals from 16 games which is incredible"If Larsson had done that everybody would be raving about him, Rudi's right up there in goals ratio and hopefully that will continue."

Jambos boss Graham Rix was more interested in basking in the satisfaction of his first win on a successful home debut in front of a welcoming Tynecastle crowd.

While Skacel is a big talent he undoubtedly wants to keep he refused to identify holding on to his midfield star as the club's No.1 priority.

Rix said: "I just want to enjoy and savour the moment for now. Obviously I want to keep Rudi but we have lots of other priorities.

He's a key player but has not been as sharp in the last couple of games. I had a chat with him and he responded.

"I'm pleased for the lads. We had a lot of chances and could have won five or six nil.

"At half-time I said the next goal would be important and when they got it that made us nervy. But the boys kept working hard

Taken from the Sunday Mail