Hearts lifted by return of McCann

AN IMPRESSIVE attendance of almost 19,000 at the home of Scottish rugby witnessed Hearts complete their preparations for next week's Champions League second qualifying round tie against Siroki Brijeg with a morale-boosting defeat of one of Spain's participants in the competition.

Goals from Andrius Velicka, one of four Kaunas players currently on trial with the Gorgie club, and Ibrahim Tall saw off an Osasuna side who were well behind Valdas Ivanauskas' men in terms of match sharpness. A further boost for the Hearts head coach came in the surprise return to action of Scotland winger Neil McCann in the second half.

Ivanauskas ruled out any immediate move to sign goalscorer Velicka or any of the other trialists. "It is possible we could sign some of those players," he said, "but we need more time. It was their first time on the big stage but they did well."

Velicka, 27, scored for Kaunas in their 3-1 UEFA Cup first qualifying round, first leg defeat of Portadown last week, a match in which fellow trialists Marius Zaliukas and Tomas Kancelskis also played.

Ivanauskas is still hopeful of concluding deals for Greek defender Hristos Karipidis and Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla, but is not concerned if they fail to materialise before tonight's transfer deadline for next week's Champions League qualifier.

"I would still like to bring those two in," he said, "but I am also happy working with the squad I have. I'm very happy with the result and performance tonight, it was important for us mentally before next week."

McCann's return from injury delighted Ivanauskas and the winger will have another run out tonight with the reserve team at Livingston. The only worry for Hearts was the hamstring injury sustained by Julien Brellier. "It is only a small injury," said Ivanauskas, "and the physio says it is not serious, but time is not our friend at the moment."

Given the imminence of their debut in Europe's elite club tournament, there was a suitable air of urgency and competitive intent from Hearts straight from kick-off. It was no surprise they looked by far the sharper side in the opening exchanges in what was their fifth and final pre-season fixture while Osasuna were in action for the first time as they prepare for their own Champions League adventure.

Paul Le Guen, the new Rangers manager, was in attendance along with his assistant Yves Colleu to run the rule over the club who denied him a crack at Champions League football, and the duo had barely taken their seats when Hearts almost opened the scoring with their first attack.

Deividas Cesnauskis, by a distance the pick of the Hearts players as they took a firm and immediate grip of the contest, earned generous applause from the supporters in the East Stand for the sustained verve and imagination he displayed on the right flank, although the Tynecastle side drew a blank in the first period.

Before the raft of second half substitutions, which invariably disrupt whatever rhythm these fixtures are able to build up, Hearts were forced into an early change which would cause mild concern among their supporters as Brellier left the field just after the half-hour mark.

But the warmest response from the Hearts support was reserved for the unexpected appearance of McCann, who made his return after a six-month absence through injury.

The feel-good factor ahead of the serious business next week intensified for Hearts as they secured a merited victory with two goals in the closing 16 minutes. The opener did Velicka's prospects of earning a contract at Tynecastle no harm at all, the midfielder pouncing on a poor headed clearance and making up for a slipshod first touch with his left foot by brilliantly lobbing the ball over Ricardo with his right from the edge of the penalty area.

Tall wrapped up a satisfying night for the Murrayfield tenants in stoppage time when he swept home a close-range right- foot shot after being picked out by fellow substitute Lee Johnson's neat free-kick.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson (Tall 59), Pressley (Kancelskis 59), Berra, Fyssas (Waskevicius 59); Driver (McCann 60), Brellier (Zaliukas 31), Aguiar (Johnson 81), Cesnauskis (Velicka 59); Jankauskas (Pospisil 59), Bednar (Mikoliunas 67). Sub not used: Banks.

Osasuna: Ricardo, Javier Flano (Izquierdo 46), Cuellar (Cruchaga 46), Josetxo (Miguel Flano 46), Monreal (Corrales 46); Lopez (Erice 59), Punal, Munoz (Valdo 59), Font (Astiz 64); Arruabarrena (Raul Garcia 46), Romeo (Vega 46). Sub not used: Elia.

Taken from the Scotsman