RIX WRESTLES WITH MASSIVE SQUAD

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts head coach Graham Rix has solved the problem of an over-sized squad by splitting them into two camps - fit and unfit players.

Eleven new signings in the January transfer window took the Tynecastle squad to almost 40-strong.

Many of those new arrivals - such as Ludek Straceny, Martin Petras, Mirsad Beslija and Juho Makela - have made their debuts for the Gorgie side but have now been sent for extra training as Rix tries to manage an unwieldy amount of bodies.

The former Portsmouth and Oxford boss, looking forward to the Bank of Scotland Premier League match against Motherwell at Tynecastle, said: "Roman Bednar and Edgaras Jankauskas are fit again and Neil McCann could be back in two or three weeks.

"When they are all ready I will have a squad of about 58!

"We've split them up into two groups. I've pulled a squad of players from those who have come in and said to them that physically I don't think they are ready.

"They have worked away from the first-team group this week and they've got maybe 10 days or two weeks of hard physical work to get them ready so that so that when they do come into the team, they can do themselves justice.

"I hope we eventually have 40 fit players. Then we will split the group into two and then I will take what I consider to be my squad and either John McGlynn, Jim Duffy or Valdas Ivanauskas will take the others.

"Keeping those players happy is part of my job, I've got to make sure that I keep them involved and make them realise that they've got to be ready, professional and when their chance comes, they've got to take it."

One player who is unconcerned about competition for places is fit-again striker Bednar, who is back in the squad for the first time since December 17 when he injured a knee against Rangers at Ibrox.

He said: "We brought a lot of players in but I'm not worried about my position.

"I think I will be on the bench this weekend but I will be 100% in a couple of weeks time and I don't think it will be difficult to get back into the team.

"I think I will be playing right away because I believe in myself and that's everything.

"And the boss has spoken to me on a few occasions and said he wants me to be playing.

"But I don't think there are too many players here, we need them to cover for injuries.

"When all the new players came in on their first day at training I didn't know all their names but I do now."

Rix insists he is not perturbed by the failure of the Scottish Football Association to conclude their investigation into whether his conviction in 1999 for unlawful

sex with an underage girl means he is not a 'fit and proper person' to work in football.

He said "To be honest I don't even think about it.

"Of course I would prefer if it was cleared up but it's not affecting me in any way whatsoever."

Taken from sportinglife.com