We rejected six offers for Berra, reveals Rix

HEARTS head coach Graham Rix will pitch Christophe Berra straight into action at Kilmarnock this afternoon after revealing he has turned down six offers for the 20-year-old centre-half.

Steven Pressley and top scorer Rudi Skacel are suspended for the trip to Rugby Park, and Berra is set to replace the club captain with new signing Neil McCann likely to come in for Skacel.

Berra has made just four appearances this season and not started since the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock on 26 October when John McGlynn was caretaker manager, yet Rix has the utmost faith in the youngster's ability.

English clubs have been tracking the Edinburgh-born player's progress, but Rix is refusing to let him go.

Rix said: "I've had about five or six managers from England phoning me up wanting to take Chris on loan or permanently. I've just said 'no' straight away because I rate the kid highly.

"He would probably be playing for a lot of first-teams in Scotland if he was elsewhere. He is definitely a part of Hearts' future."

Berra looks to Chelsea captain John Terry as a role model since the Englishman didn't blossom as a defender until he was 23. And Rix believes he has all the attributes to go right to the top and help the Tynecastle side's title push.

He added: "Chris is quick, strong, aggressive and a real Hearts man. Terry plays every week, is determined and a real leader. There is no reason why Christophe can't go on to do that."

"So he's got a chance today to show people what he can do in what is a massive game for us. I know it's quite a gap [seven points] to Celtic but if we keep playing well we'll take them right to the end."

Rix has been boosted by the news Edgaras Jankauskas may return to training next week after his hamstring problem. The bulletin on Roman Bednar is not so positive and the Czech striker may not play again this season because of a knee injury.

"There's always a possibility of that [Bednar not returning before the end of the season] but at the moment he's making great progress," Rix said.

"I would say I'm hopeful. He's a big player for us and since I've been here I think he's only played about a game and a half and it's a worry for Roman, it's not a great situation for the boy."

Bednar first injured his knee in the win over Rangers in September following a tackle by Marvin Andrews. The striker required surgery and returned in November, but was sidelined again shortly afterwards and has not played since the defeat at Ibrox on 17 December. The latest setback was caused by a training ground tackle by Berra and Bednar may require a second operation.

Rix will now step up his efforts to sign a new striker and is still keen to do deals for Portuguese pair Jose Goncalves and Bruno Aguiar. Hearts have also asked 15-year-old Clach goalkeeper Calum Donaldson for trials.

Taken from the Scotsman