IF any evidence was needed to demonstrate just what a valuable player Julien Brellier is for Hearts, it was there in abundance against Inverness Caley Thistle.

Suspended for the visit of Craig Brewster's away-day specialists, the Frenchman was back home in Grenoble with his family as the Jambos saw this season's 100 per cent record at Tynecastle come stuttering to a halt in the stalemate.

Scotland star Paul Hartley was asked to play a deeper role by boss Graham Rix, who handed Stephen Simmons his first league start of the season in the middle of the park.

The enforced change upset the home side's balance and rhythm and they never managed to get to grips with the Caley Jags, who headed back up the A9 justifiably disappointed.

While Rix's decision to opt for Hartley caused a certain amount of puzzlement among the Gorgie faithful, it was the effect that the absence of Brellier had which perhaps was most telling.

One person more than appreciative of the workload undertaken by the tenacious Frenchman, is Hearts legend Gary Mackay, himself no stranger to putting in a shift or two in the Jambos engine room down the years.

The former Gorgie star is a huge fan of the former Inter Milan player and insists the goal-scoring exploits of the likes of Rudi Skacel and Paul Hartley are all down to the coverage provided by the 23-year-old.

"Julien Brellier is a key player as an individual but also because he allows others to play," he said. "He lets other people go and express themselves and what the Hearts performances have been about all season is expression.

"How many teams in Europe have two midfielders as their top scorers? Paul Hartley and Rudi Skacel have been able to get forward and create chances and score goals because they have had Brellier - and to a lesser extent Samuel Camazzola - giving them the licence to do so.

"Brellier is just a very effective player. Claude Makelele [pictured right] does it for Chelsea and Hamann does it at Liverpool. Manchester United are actually screaming out for someone like that now as with all due respect to Alan Smith, who is a good footballer, he's not an ideal sitting midfielder.

"Brellier plays the game simply. The work he did earlier in the season possibly went unnoticed by a lot of the fans. But having seen the way the team has progressed and then watched what they were like without him in the side against Inverness, I think the supporters are well aware of his effectiveness.

"That's not being disrespectful to either Paul Hartley or Stephen Simmons but they are not naturals for that role."

Owner Vladimir Romanov is understood to have questioned the wisdom of former manager George Burley's decision to bring in Brellier. But as far as Mackay is concerned, the Frenchman is worth his weight in gold to the high-flying Hearts team.

"Brellier is a big player for Hearts and I think even Mr Romanov would have to admit that Julien has been a hugely influential player this season and that was clearly shown on Saturday," he said.

"Neil Berry did a similar job for myself and Kenny Black, although I later filled that role in the latter stages of my career under Jim Jefferies.

"Stefano Salvatori then took over from me and it was to allow people like Stevie Fulton and Colin Cameron to express themselves.

"Similar to the two guys Hearts have just now, one was a hugely talented footballer and the other was great at getting into opposition boxes.

"Rudi and Paul are the ones who receive the plaudits and they deserve them as they are the ones putting the ball in the back of the net.

"But they won't underestimate the importance of Julien Brellier."

With the midfield set to be bolstered by the return from suspension of the tough-tackling Brellier, Mackay is confident the Jambos can emerge from Ibrox with Rix's unbeaten run as manager still intact. The big question mark is who will be able to play up front but as far as Mackay is concerned the rest of the team should pick itself for the trip to Govan.

"It's not for me to pick Graham Rix's team but from my own perspective I think Brellier will come back in and for me the balance of the team gets even better when Camazzola plays," he said.

"It would be lovely to get a victory but the balance of the team has to be correct. The balance at the back and in the middle is there for everybody to see.

"I know the best eight players Hearts should play in defence and midfield.

"There have been a lot of changes up front and that's not so obvious and more likely to be determined by fitness than anything else. But for me the back eight, and the goalkeeper, pick themselves, particularly for a game at Ibrox.

"I'm not trying to pick Graham's team, it's just that these are the guys I think would be most effective.

"And I think the players would be happier within themselves with that line-up.

"I think Hearts are capable of winning on Saturday.

"Rangers will be buoyed by their last two results against Inter Milan and Kilmarnock but if Hearts play anything like the way they did at Celtic Park earlier this season, they will have a real chance."

Hearts have already defeated Saturday's hosts this season, Roman Bednar netting the only goal of the game in September.

And they could well have returned home from Parkhead with maximum points in October with the Hoops on the back foot for much of the encounter.

"That performance at Parkhead was the most professional and competent display I've seen from a Hearts side in all the time I have supported the club," added Mackay.

"Hearts controlled that match and that rarely happens against the Old Firm - and if they can play anything like that, then I'm sure they'll leave Ibrox happy."

Taken from the Scotsman