Craig takes great Hart from his signing's successes

CRAIG LEVEIN will take his seat in the VIP section at Hampden on Saturday anticipating yet another tyrannical display from the best signing of his four years at Hearts.

Paul Hartley, has left defence upon defence devastated during the closing weeks of this season's league campaign, his performances being major catalysts for allowing him his Champions League bow this July.

It's an impossible notion to contemplate now but Hartley was recruited by Hearts on a free transfer three years ago from First Division St Johnstone. With the help of Levein's vision, he reinvented himself from being an inconsistent winger to a ubiquitous and lethal goalscoring midfielder.

Valdas Ivanauskas, the interim head coach at Tynecastle, now regards the 29-year-old as "one of the best midfielders in Europe". It was his unyielding nerve and clinical accuracy that saw the decisive penalty converted against Aberdeen last week, which prompted scenes of relentless joy at the clinching of a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.

Levein's foresight told him years ago that Hartley was always capable of gracing such a level, although enticing from him the passionate and incisive football that Hearts fans now thrive on each week was initially a test for the former manager's coaching ability.

"People ask me 'what does he do?' but all I did was sign him, the rest was all him," maintained Levein. "I watched Paul way back when he was at Raith Rovers and I've followed his career since then. I always felt he had underachieved because he had so much ability and hadn't shown it.

"We played against St Johnstone when I was manager at Cowdenbeath and he was in central midfield that day, so I knew he could play in a number of positions. Actually, when I had injuries at Hearts I was considering playing him at right-back for one game to help us out. He is the type of boy who would have done that for you and given his best."

Levein offers the admission that he has conducted more interviews about Hartley since he left Tynecastle than he did when it was his name on the door of the manager's office. You can also sense from the effusive praise, though, that he would give an indefinite amount more on the same topic.

"Within about six weeks of arriving at Hearts I think Paul decided it was the place for him to settle down and improve and show his true talent. Hartley will speak out in the dressing-room, not as much as Steven Pressley, but with Hartley he does it more on the pitch.

"He will be a big threat to Gretna with his runs from midfield. With the strength Hearts have up front and the presence they carry all over the pitch, I just can't see Gretna living with them. If they aren't affected too much by nerves then they shouldn't have a problem.

"Everybody understands that if Hearts do the job properly, then no matter what Gretna do Hearts will win. Knowing the players that I do, I don't think there'll be a problem in that respect because they will be focused, they are worthy favourites and I think they will win."

After his enforced departure from English Championship club Leicester City in January, Levein has taken a sabbatical from football as he ponders his next move in the game. Hearts, technically, are without a manager given that Ivanauskas has not been installed full-time.

But anyone who puts two and two together and comes up with Levein are likely to be mistaken, for he is thoroughly content to sit on the outside of Tynecastle and peer in from time to time.

"Obviously I'm not associated with the club now but I'll be nervous on Saturday for the people that I know very well like John McGlynn and Tom Ritchie, as well as the players I worked with. The day is for them.

"They've gone through some difficult times over the last couple of years with all the stuff that has gone on behind the scenes at Hearts. They have managed to stay focused and improve as players and, of course, the team has improved. They are mentally very strong."

They have had to be, senior squad members more than most. For Hartley, a player christened with the moniker of "Zico", one more touch of magic could provide his crowning moment after years of anti-climax.

Taken from the Scotsman