Roman call-up Bednar late than never, says Valdas

HEARTS boss Valdas Ivanauskas today hailed Roman Bednar's international call-up but claimed the striker should have been part of Czech Republic's squad for the World Cup in Germany last month.

Bednar has been named in Karel Bruckner's squad for the friendly clash with Serbia next week and will hope to earn his first cap.

Ivanauskas believes it is just reward for the frontman's hard work, although he admits that he was surprised that neither Bednar or strike partner Michal Pospisil were quoted in Bruckner's World Cup line-up.

The Lithuanian said: "A lot of our players go away with their national teams next week for games or for training camps and I think that is good for the players because it is a change of atmosphere and situation.

"It was very good news that Roman has been named in the Czech squad, it is big news and I am delighted for him.

"To be honest, I wondered why Roman or Michal Pospisil were not in the squad for the World Cup but that is not a question for me - that is for the manager of the Czech squad.

"I think that it is important for Roman that he is in the squad, he has been working so hard and I think that at the end of last season he would have been ready for the World Cup.

"The Czech side has a lot of big-name players in it, though, Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros and it is not easy to come in when there are players like that. Roman wasn't included in the World Cup but it did not make his head go down, he just kept working and working.

"He had a good pre-season and I think it has worked out perfectly for him."

Last season, midfielders Paul Hartley and the departed Rudi Skacel were the club's top goalscorers last season. However Ivanauskas is certain that Bednar will among the contenders this time round.

Bednar netted seven times in his 21 league appearances last term and got this campaign off to a flier, goals against Siroki Brijeg and Dunfermline coming before his stunning double in the 2-1 win over Celtic last Sunday.

The Hearts manager has been impressed by Bednar's work-rate on the pitch and in pre-season training, and believes there is much more to come from the 23-year-old.

He added: "I think that Roman has a big chance to score a lot of goals for Hearts this season, he has chances in every single game and that is a good sign."

Taken from the Scotsman