Ivanauskas hints at Beslija role as key players rested for Rangers game

ALTHOUGH he cost Hearts a record fee of £850,000 and was handed the No 11 jersey on his arrival at Tynecastle in January from Racing Genk, Mirsad Beslija, the Bosnian internationalist, has been conspicuously difficult to spot over the past five months.

Having previously started only one game in a maroon jersey and made just two other appearances as a substitute, Beslija, 26, may enjoy a rare public sighting at some stage of the SPL match against Rangers at Ibrox tomorrow, when coach Valdas Ivanauskas admits he will rest a number of key individuals whom he feels need a break before the Tennent's Scottish Cup final against Gretna next weekend.

Beslija, capped for his country 39 times and with Champions League experience against Real Madrid, Roma and AEK Athens, has struggled even to force his way on to the bench since joining Hearts. Yet Ivanauskas believes the acquisition of the winger could have indirectly acted as a spur for Deividas Cesnauskis, who did establish himself in the second half of the season as first choice on the right side of midfield.

"Some players who have not been used as much recently could have a big chance in this game against Rangers to show what they're capable of and perhaps force their way into consideration for Hampden," indicated the coach. "Mirsad, for example, is in the squad. Every time a player comes to a club in a new country, he's on an emotional high and is striving to prove something. With Beslija, after a while, his performance level dropped. But now he's looking stronger again and making progress. We know Beslija cost quite a lot of money, but the most important thing is the player and what he has to offer, not what he cost.

"I've been very satisfied with the performances of Cesnauskis lately, he's produced solid displays - everything you could expect from this type of player in that position. All of our wide players - Cesnauskis, Saulius Mikoliunas and Beslija - have different qualities. But their individual contribution can't be at the expense of the team. We want discipline as well as improvisation."

While Ivanauskas was coy about confirming whether Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon will sit out the Rangers game, he did confirm Steven Pressley will get tomorrow afternoon off.

"We have some injuries after the game against Aberdeen and there are others who need a rest. Pressley will get [a rest] and we'll look at Hartley and Gordon before the kick-off. You're right, with the cup final in mind, injuries can be costly for us, as can yellow and red cards. But we will go to Ibrox with a strong team and our target is to win. On this occasion, the result may not be the most important thing. But we don't want to end what has been a fantastic league season with a defeat."

Equally reticent on the subject of being appointed head coach on a permanent basis next season - he's won six of his eight matches in charge - a smile did cross Ivanauskas' impassive features when he revealed that Hearts will report back from holiday on 23 June and attend a training camp in either Germany, Austria, Holland or Italy.

Taken from the Scotsman