Ibrahim ready to stand Tall

THERE can be no question about the biggest beneficiary in what has now become known as "Webstergate". Ibrahim Tall, without an appearance for the first eight months of his Hearts career, is on the brink of greatness as he prepares to face Celtic this weekend.

The Senegalese, if he continues to retain his place in defence, could incredibly attain a cup winner's medal in only his sixth game for the club, and all as a consequence of Vladimir Romanov's obstinate approach to Webster.

The Scotland internationalist is likely to watch from the Tynecastle stand once more on Sunday because of his refusal to sign an extension to his Hearts contract, whilst his team-mates confront the SPL champions in the final straight of the race for the Champions League. In his place will be Tall.

Something of a rags-to-riches story, you could say. Tall arrived in Edinburgh last August under the instruction of Romanov but against the wishes of then-manager George Burley, who denied him any first-team exposure. The defender's fate continued when Graham Rix replaced Burley in November, by which time Tall's status as the forgotten man of Tynecastle had been well and truly confirmed.

His £10,000-a-week wage may have cushioned the blow of the ostracism slightly, but the 24-year-old ultimately yearned to play. Finally, with the removal of Rix and Romanov exerting more influence on the team after placing Ivanauskas in interim control, Tall has been granted his wish and is readying himself for one of the most potent afternoons of his career against Celtic.

"I know my situation is a little strange but I am happy," he says. "I haven't played for eight months so naturally I am pleased to have played in our last two games. I am happy because, previously, it was a difficult situation for me during those months. Adapting was hard.

"Playing Celtic is a big game for me. They are a powerful side but I think we have a big chance because the match is at Tynecastle. I want to win because we are going for second place in the championship.

"Celtic have a lot of dangerous players - Hartson, Zurawski, Nakamura, and Roy Keane is still a great player to have in your side. I don't think you can watch one player when you play Celtic because every one of them can harm you."

Gordon Strachan brings his side east with little genuine incentive to play for other than pride after they clinched the SPL title last time the sides met in Glasgow, but the very nature of Celtic's revival under the gritty Scot should ordain that the Hearts' preparations are a lesson in thoroughness.

In particular, Tall is anticipating an intriguing and perhaps unpredictable confrontation. He recognises that Webster's continuing absence, and a season-ending hamstring injury suffered by Jose Goncalves, has created a chasm in defence for him.

"Andy Webster not playing is the choice of the manager. I don't know whether I am playing on Sunday or not because the manager hasn't told us the team yet. If he says to me I am playing then I will be happy.

"I want only to play. If it's against a physical man, a big man, I want to play. If my opponent is smaller and quick, I want to play. I don't look at who is playing against me, whether he is a tricky player or a physical player I will adapt."

Indeed, Tall appears to have the act of acclimatising down to a fine art. Prior to his substitute's entrance for Hearts against Kilmarnock two weeks ago, his last competitive outing was for his former club, Sochaux, against Paris St Germain on May 14 last year. He hasn't looked out of place, either against Killie or in last week's Edinburgh derby defeat.

In an effort to prise more from a player they believed was not fully exerting himself earlier this season, both Burley and Rix privately urged Tall to show them his full capabilities in training sessions. But his first-team promotion never came, instead he was restricted to the often-mundane environment of reserve football.

"I had two managers who refused to play me," says Tall. "That was their choice. My job is only to turn up for training and work as hard as I can. When I went with the reserves I played my best, but still the manager would take the choice not to use me.

"When I signed for Hearts they were top of the league and didn't lose any of their first 12 league games. When the team is playing very well like that, it is difficult to get in. After George Burley was sacked, Graham Rix arrived but my situation didn't change.

"It's in the past for me now and I hope my future with Hearts is better. My fitness is getting better but you have to remember how long I went without playing. I played a lot with the reserve team during that time, but that is not the same. I have improved just from my two games in the first team, and if I play again on Sunday I will benefit even more."

With captain Steven Pressley's fitness still in doubt, Tall could again be partnered by Christophe Berra in central defence against a club he came close to joining last summer before his Hearts move came to fruition. At that time, he was utterly convinced of the potential waiting to be roused in Gorgie.

"I look upon Hearts as a good team and that's why I came here. The run at the start of the season was very good and now I have the chance to play in the Champions League for the first time. I want to play in the last three games in the championship and then the cup final. I want to play every game, it's that simple. If the manager wants me to play, I will give 100 per cent for Hearts."

As possible top-level European competition beckons, Tall's mind is wound back to his previous continental experiences with Sochaux. In 2003, he played in a 4-0 UEFA Cup blitzing of Borussia Dortmund [6-2 on aggregate] before suffering elimination at the hands of Inter Milan in the third round. A year later, Sochaux progressed through the group stages of the same tournament before falling to the Greeks of Olympiakos.

Despite his hitherto lack of exposure in Scotland, the man clearly has pedigree. "My time in the UEFA Cup was great experience. I played seven games in that tournament over two seasons, but the Champions League is a different competition with much bigger teams. If Hearts make it into the Champions League it can only be good for everybody because we will all have added to our experience and knowledge."

Webster may not be around by then to benefit from such exposure, but one man will be only too happy to assume his mantle.

Taken from the Scotsman