Hearts add spice from Chile for attack on SPL

HEARTS added a dash of South American flair to their front-line yesterday with the capture of Mauricio Pinilla on a one-year loan deal.

Sporting a pair of sparkling gold trainers, the Chile striker was unveiled at Riccarton as the Gorgie club's first signing of the summer and his arrival on the eve of the new domestic campaign provides a timely lift for last season's runners-up.

Pinilla is not in the squad to face Dunfermline this afternoon, nor is he eligible to play in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Siroki Brijeg in Herzegovina on Wednesday, but he has been signed in time to play against AEK Athens in the final stage of qualifying, should Hearts progress.

Prior to yesterday the Tynecastle club had been the only side in the SPL not to have added to their squad, and owner Vladimir Romanov had warned earlier in the week that there would be fewer new signing this season, with the coaching staff told to make more use of the club's young players.

However, Romanov and head coach Valdas Ivanauskas clearly felt the need to strengthen the attack and the addition of the pacy Pinilla will complement the more robust talents of Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar.

Still just 22, Pinilla has already graced the top flights in Italy, Spain and Portugal since leaving his homeland in a short but nomadic career. Viewed as the brightest star in the firmament in his native Chile, Pinilla has over 30 caps for his country and was top scorer during their (unsuccessful) World Cup qualifying campaign.

He joins Hearts from the Lisbon club, Sporting, but spent last season on loan at Racing Santander. He initially came to Europe to join Internazionale but never made the breakthrough and moved to fellow Serie A side Chievo. They loaned him to Celta Vigo before eventually selling him to Sporting.

While he has yet to fully establish himself in Europe, he hopes his time at Hearts will address that. An option exists for the Tynecastle club to sign him for a further three years and both parties made optimistic noises about extending his stay in Edinburgh.

Pinilla describes himself as "quick and powerful" and Ivanauskas believes he will add a fresh dimension to the Hearts attack. "The season is very long with different cups and competitions so we need different options," the coach explained. "We now have more strikers to choose from. We had five strikers last season, but, during the winter, we had just two fit in Calum Elliot and Michal Pospisil."

While reports in Chile claimed Pinilla had said Hearts were "not a great club" and that he was using the move as a springboard to the Premiership, the player was a model of diplomacy when paraded at the club's training academy. "I was attracted to Hearts because they are a very big club," he said through an interpreter, "and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to show my qualities in domestic and European competition.

"My aim is to get first place in the league and do well in Europe and I'd be delighted if the extension clause in the contract was exercised."

Pinilla was at Murrayfield on Wednesday to see Hearts defeat Siroki 3-0 and believes he can fit in. "I know Scottish football is very strong and very competitive," he said. "But I don't think I will have a problem trying to adapt to it from what I saw of the last game at Murrayfield against Siroki Brijeg.

"Although it was not against a Scottish team, I could see the style of the team and I think I can adapt to that. The main thing is to try and get through all the stages in the European competition and I hope I can contribute to that."

The highlight of Pinilla's time with Sporting was helping the Portuguese club reach the UEFA Cup final in 2005. He scored the winner in the first leg of the semi-final against AZ Alkmaar but never played in the final. In fact, since his arrival in Europe his appearances have been sporadic.

Pinilla's arrival ends Hearts' interest in the South Korean international Ahn Jung-hwan. However, Ivanauskas has not given up hope of landing the Greek defender Christos Karipidis and talks are continuing with the player's club, PAOK Salonika.

Having won the Scottish Cup last season and finished second in the SPL, Hearts have much to live up to and Ivanauskas knows the value of a winning start at Dunfermline. "After a good result on Wednesday it's very important we start with a victory in the league," said the coach. "We need a positive reaction after Wednesday's game."

Christophe Berra, who is likely to retain his place in the centre of defence alongside captain Steven Pressley, thinks Hearts will find it harder this season. Having caught everyone by surprise this time last year when they won their opening eight league games, Berra believes opposition clubs will be more wary of facing the Tynecastle side. "Everyone thinks of us as big scalps now," said Berra, "and we've got to prove we're not one-season wonders."

With both Neil McCann and Julien Brellier recovered from knocks, Ivanauskas' squad is in good shape, apart from the absence of Paul Hartley with a groin injury. Jankauskas is suspended and Hearts are likely to start with Pospisil and Bednar in attack at East End Park.

With the potential for great European adventures ahead, these are exciting times for Hearts, who can expect to offer another stiff challenge to the Old Firm on the domestic front, despite the loss of Rudi Skacel and Andy Webster.

Taken from the Scotsman