Rudi still firing despite Burley exit

AS George Burley's first signing for Hearts, Rudi Skacel felt the impact of the Scot's shock departure from Tynecastle more than most.

The Czech Republic star had forged a close relationship with the man responsible for the Jambos' exhilarating start to the season and also struck up a special understanding with Burley's No.2 Simon Hunt.

The management team took the SPL by storm, guiding Hearts to eight straight wins en route to the summit of the table. The feel-good factor which had been instilled almost overnight was shattered, however, with the bewildering chain of events which saw Burley, pictured below right, leave the club in circumstances which have yet to be fully explained by either party.

Skacel, who found the net in his first seven league games for the club, demonstrated his feelings when unveiling a t-shirt bearing the slogan "For the gaffer and papa", the latter name his term of affection for mentor Hunt, at the end of the home game against Dunfermline in October.

"When George Burley left it was a problem for us but we are all professionals and had to try to keep our good run going," he said. "We had a fantastic start and it was a great four months for me. George was a fantastic gaffer - I have never had a manager like him before.

"I was sad when he left but we all have the same dreams here of winning the title or finishing second to get into the Champions League and had to focus on that."

Although stunned by the dramatic exit of their highly-rated manager and his backroom team, the players rallied to dump the Fifers 2-0 and maintain their impressive opening to the season, Skacel continuing his rich vein of form in front of goal as he set his side on the way to victory with a 20th-minute opener.

A double strike against Livingston on Saturday sealed a 2-1 victory and delivered a first win for new boss Graham Rix in his first game at Tynecastle.

The brace took Skacel's tally for the season to an impressive 13, the former Slavia Prague and Panathinaikos midfielder having soared past his previous best haul of nine goals with some eye-catching performances for the Gorgie outfit.

Collective success rather than personal glory has always been the mantra of the 26-year-old.

As long as Hearts are picking up points each week, Skacel doesn't mind who is finding the back of the net. But having already hit double figures for the first time in his professional career, the midfielder is in no mood to ease up on opposition defences as the New Year approaches.

And that could spell trouble for Craig Brewster's side as the Highlanders prepare to head south tomorrow.

"To score 13 goals in a season is a record for me. It is nice but it is more important that the team is doing well," said Skacel, who is on a year-long loan from Marseille.

"I enjoy scoring goals, although it is a bonus to get so many from midfield," he said.

"Hopefully I can keep scoring to help Hearts stay at the top.

"My team-mates deserve a lot of credit for helping me and the supporters have been great as well."

With the goals has come problems with officialdom, however, the player having been booked several times this season for overdoing his celebrations.

Currently just one more yellow card away from suspension, Skacel is conscious he has to keep himself on the right side of the law in future.

He kept a lid on things against the Lions last weekend despite his first-half heroics and knows that has to be the way forward from now on.

"I know I have to be careful when I celebrate. I have already picked up a few bookings because of that and I can't afford any more," he said.

"I know I am close to a suspension so I have to concentrate now and be careful. It can be difficult sometimes when you score at important times but I know what I have to do."

Feted as a hero by his adoring fans, Skacel's scintillating form has seen him linked with numerous clubs in recent weeks.

Speculation surrounding his future intensified amid reports that Werder Bremen were lining up a big-money swoop but the player stressed today that he will be at Hearts until the end of the season at least - by which time he hopes to be in proud possession of a league championship winner's medal.

"I have a contract with Hearts and I'm happy here. We will see what happens in the summer," he said.

"I don't know what will happen and I don't like speaking about my future as I have a contract with Hearts.

"We have a big chance of winning the title and I want to be a champion with Hearts.

"I also like Edinburgh as a city, I like the supporters and we have a strong team here just now.

"There are no big stars in the side and it's more like a family, which is fantastic."

With all thoughts of his future put to one side, Skacel is targeting another three points against Inverness tomorrow.

With leaders Celtic facing third-placed Hibs at Parkhead at the same time, a win for the Jambos will ensure their quest for European qualification is significantly bolstered.

"It was important to get that win over Livingston as the previous two games we had drawn, which wasn't what we wanted," he said.

"It was a difficult beginning for the new manager and we did well to come back the way we did.

"This is an important game for us tomorrow as we play Rangers the following weekend and it's vital we stay at the top putting pressure on Celtic.

"We had a difficult game against Inverness earlier in the season and it will be hard again tomorrow. But we are at home and, with the help of all our fans, we'll be looking to get a victory."

Having flirted with the Czech Republic international squad this season, the midfielder is also dreaming of World Cup glory with his country next summer.

Skacel has settled quickly into his SPL surroundings and should he continue to perform so impressively, national coach Karl Bruckner will surely find his claims to a place difficult to ignore.

"Football in every country is different and here it is very fast.

"You have to be tough to cope with the physical nature of it here but I am really enjoying my time at Hearts," he said.

"The Czech Republic has many good players and I wasn't involved in the last squad, which was disappointing as I have scored many goals for Hearts this season.

"I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and try to help Hearts win the title by scoring more goals and then wait and see what happens with my country.

"As for Germany next summer, who knows?"

Taken from the Scotsman