Brellier provides timely reminder of his qualities

WHEN the occasion demands someone who is able to swing their boot as often as they caress a football, there is no better man to have on your side than Julien Brellier.

The classy Frenchman started competitively for Hearts at Dunfermline on Saturday, an opening-day beginning he now aspires to continue after being relegated to the fringes of the first team as last season climaxed so spectacularly. Bruno Aguiar, right, who emerged as the side's principal holding midfielder under the initial tutelage of Valdas Ivanauskas, helped effect Champions League qualification and Scottish Cup success as Brellier was restricted to a view from the substitutes' bench.

Now the man from across the English Channel is back in demand, apparently. Recovering sufficiently from a hamstring injury sustained in Hearts' final pre-season outing against Osasuna, Brellier imposed himself at East End Park by matching his indomitability to a considerable degree of skill and conviction as he prowled around in front of the back four.

Describing each minute of Saturday's 90 as "keenly-contested" would be understating the case. Executing tackles, albeit a few of them illegal, is what Brellier does best and is a central reason behind the impression he gave in the 2-1 victory. Most of his interventions, though, are of the "hard-but-fair" variety.

As he emerged from the visiting dressing room wiping sweat from his brow and fanning his polo shirt, it was impossible to ignore the notion that the 23-year-old had derived a great deal of pride from reclaiming his place in the Hearts team. And from the convincing display he had given.

"I was delighted when I heard I was in the starting 11 because, except for the Rangers game at Ibrox at the end of the season, it's been a long time since I started a game," said Brellier. "Now we are in Bosnia but I don't know whether I will be playing in that game or not, the gaffer has to take the decision."

Unassuming is probably the best approach Brellier could adopt right now, for nothing surrounding Hearts is ever certain for very long these days. Except their desire to usurp Rangers again this season, and, if possible, Celtic as well.

Brellier went on: "We always want to win and, in the past, we have played better than we did on Saturday and lost. I don't think we deserved to beat Dunfermline on the basis of our play but the character and desire we have shown merits it.

"We showed those attributes last week against Siroki Brijeg and in every game during pre-season.

"We showed it again on Saturday and this can be a vital aspect of our season, to have a winning mentality.

"Valdas was happy because he knew we were playing against a very awkward team. He wanted 100 per cent from us and it was a difficult game to win, but he told the players he was satisfied."

Ten yellow cards, including two for Andy Tod and a subsequent red, were administered on Saturday as referee Brian Winter toiled at one stage to prevent the afternoon descending into an uninhibited melee. Brellier picked up his customary booking but was also the victim in Tod's ultimate misdemeanour.

"He was a little bit late on me," smiled the Frenchman wryly. "I don't think he would have deserved a straight red card but it was his second booking so in that case I don't think he could complain. He kicked my foot but it wasn't too violent and it wasn't sore."

You wonder if anything is for this guy.

At a juncture so early in the campaign when Hearts are seeking to mount a challenge on the continent and in Scotland, Brellier's re-emergence shows impeccable timing by the Frenchman. What Ivanauskas does when Paul Hartley attains full fitness is anyone's guess, although his previous tendency to deploy the Portuguese in the spoiling role and leave Brellier on the bench would rob the Hearts defence of a vital protective shield.

Aguiar is a naturally forward-thinking player but, for now, he is operating reliably in Hartley's advanced midfield berth, leaving supporters' idol Brellier as the sitter.

Hearts will unquestionably have their capabilities examined more extensively than Dunfermline managed at the weekend, for the Fife side's hustling tactics didn't appear to include plans to break down the opposition and seriously test Craig Gordon. Statistics of one played, one won are easily digested for now, though.

"The most important thing was the three points," says Brellier. "It wasn't a very good game and it was physically tough at times but it was vital for us to leave Dunfermline with a win and we did that. Because it was the first game of the season, both teams wanted to show their desire and I think you could see this. There were a lot of yellow cards, including one for me when I did nothing. But the start is always important and we are happy with it."

Now it's off with SPL hats and on with the Champions League ones as the self-proclaimed "Skripari" fans await Hearts' arrival in the Pecara Stadium tomorrow evening. Tight schedules like this week, which also includes the visit of Celtic to Tynecastle on Sunday and AEK Athens' arrival at Murrayfield next midweek, will reveal just how adaptable this Hearts squad is to double-edged priorities.

Brellier remains unfazed, which shouldn't surprise anyone who's been watching Hearts since he signed from Inter Milan 12 months ago. "If we are playing all these games then it will mean we are on an extended run in the Champions League. Playing every few days in Europe and then domestically will be fantastic for us and that's what we want.

"We must play this game tomorrow first and give it our full attention because European football has thrown up many surprises this season.

"We should go there attempting to win to make sure we will play AEK Athens.

"Our attitude is to win every time we play anyway, so that shouldn't affect us. I've never played in Bosnia, never even been there, so it will be a first experience for me."

Starting a Hearts match is less of a rarity, but not by much. Brellier will have a vital role in Siroki Brijeg tomorrow and, for Hearts' sake, it should be hoped that he remains a central figure for weeks to come.

Taken from the Scotsman