HEARTS star Ibrahim Tall has been left out in the cold this season but he insisted today that he's ready to turn up the heat in the battle for a first-team jersey.

The 24-year-old has yet to make his debut for the Gorgie outfit after being brought to the club by owner Vladimir Romanov just hours before the summer transfer window slammed shut.

Having struggled to make any impression with the SPL title hopefuls, he has been forced to cool his heels on the sidelines with the Jambos' rearguard boasting the best defensive record in the top flight - Steven Pressley & Co have conceded just 12 goals in 18 league matches.

It's been a frustrating few months for the Senegalese internationalist, who is reportedly among the higher earners at the club courtesy of Romanov's bulging cheque book.

The full-back has featured on the bench on occasions but has only seen action for the reserves since his arrival from French outfit Sochaux on a three-year deal.

His form failed to convince former boss George Burley that he was better than current right-back Robbie Neilson and new head coach Graham Rix has also left him on the sidelines in his first four games at the helm.

The former England internationalist told the Evening News on Saturday that the door was open to Tall - and all other fringe players - to stake his claim for promotion. And the 6ft stopper, who can also play in the centre of defence, insisted he is ready for the challenge in front of him.

Speaking after grabbing his first goal for the club in yesterday's 1-1 draw with Dunfermline in the SPL Reserve League clash at East End Park, the right-back insisted he is happy at Tynecastle and is just waiting for his chance to prove his worth to the squad.

It's unlikely that will come in Saturday's showdown with Rangers at Ibrox as Rix looks to stretch his unbeaten start to five games but the former Sochaux star insisted today that he is ready and willing to answer any call from his boss.

The recently-installed head coach was in Fife to see Tall earn a point for the visitors with a second-half header and the player is well aware of the challenge which lies ahead. "That was my first goal for Hearts and it was a great feeling to score, even it was just a reserve match," he said.

"Whether it's enough for me to get into the squad for Saturday's game against Rangers I don't know. The manager was at the game against Dunfermline so I'll have to wait and see what his decision is."

Tall's spirits will have been lifted by yesterday's goal-scoring exploits in the Kingdom of Fife and remains confident in his own ability to make it in a maroon jersey. "Obviously I want to play at Ibrox this weekend but it's not up to me," he said.

"It is a very important match for us after our draw against Inverness and if the boss wants me, then I am ready."

Having put to pen to paper on a lucrative deal which will keep him at Tynecastle until 2008, Tall hopes it's just a matter of time before he gets an opportunity." I have signed for three years and I believe I have something to offer the team," he said.

"I will keep working hard in training and see what happens."

Tall has grown used to watching the Jambos' championship tilt as a spectator but is confident he can adapt to a significant change in footballing styles to compete for a starting place.

"I am very happy in Scotland and Edinburgh is such a lovely city," he said.

"However, the football here is very different to what I was used to in France. It is very technical in France but here it is technical and very physical. I have seen every game, whether from the bench or the stand and there's no doubt we have a very good team at Tynecastle.

"We are right up there in the championship race and the objective has to be to finish first or second. I would like to get into the team to help our league challenge but there are a lot of good players in the squad."

Assistant coach John McGlynn was delighted with the 24-year-old's contribution against the Fifers, Tall lining up at right-back alongside Gary Tierney, Christophe Berra and Lee Wallace. The former Tynecastle interim boss acknowledged that the Hearts back line had basically been picking itself this season, the high-flying Gorgie side having lost just one of their 18 SPL games. But he stressed that individuals like Tall must be prepared to make the most of any opportunity, unexpected or otherwise when it presents itself.

"I was pleased for Ibrahim to get his goal which is his first for Hearts. He did well at right-back and used the ball well which was good to see," he said. "He was one of the plusses and I'm sure his confidence will have grown as a result.

"Goals help anyone's confidence and he's no different, even being a defender who maybe doesn't get the chance to score that often."

He added: "He has found it difficult to break into the defence as it has been very solid throughout the season.

"It's been difficult for him and I'm sure he is a bit frustrated. But we have to have a strong squad at Hearts and that means the people on the fringes of things have to keep doing well.

"They have to be ready to come in and the problem for them is that they just don't know when that is going to be.

"It is his job to be ready to play, though. He works hard enough, he's a decent lad and the only problem for him is that he can't break into the team at the moment.

"That's the challenge which lies in front of him and others here."

Taken from the Scotsman