Zaliukas looks to be Hearts bound

HEARTS are 90 per cent certain to sign a new player today, according to Valdas Ivanauskas, with Marius Zaliukas of Kaunas believed to be the man in question. The coach would not name the prospective recruit, but said he was a defensive midfielder who had already been on trial with Hearts, and Zaliukas, who played in the recent friendly against Osasuna, fits the bill.

The new signing, who may even be on the bench for this afternoon's top-of-the-table game against Falkirk at Tynecastle, will provide cover for an area in which Ivanauskas currently has few options. When Julien Brellier is unfit, as was the case on Wednesday when Hearts lost to AEK Athens in their Champions League qualifier, there is no ready-made replacement for the holding midfield role.

Christos Karipidis, who took up the position on Wednesday, is a centre-back or right-back. Bruno Aguiar can play there at a push, but is more comfortable further up the park.

"The player can play in midfield and defence," Ivanuskas said. "Midfield is the most important area of the team. He's a good player, and we need options there. He is coming on Saturday morning, and it is 90 per cent he stays here. It is difficult after travel [for him to play], but the bench is good." Any new signing today would not be eligible for the return leg of the third-round tie against AEK.

As one player gets ready to join Hearts, teenage striker Calum Elliot is set to leave the club on loan, with Dunfermline Athletic the most likely destination. "I think it would be better for Calum and for everybody," Ivanauskas said. "So many clubs are interested in him and I have had so many calls from people asking about him, but for me the team is very important and I will do what is best for Hearts.

"If he goes it should be right for the team. He is a young boy, but he is not ready for the big football yet. What I want is a good team who will look after Calum, a good atmosphere and team spirit to help him develop. Because he is so young, we have to be careful with him. In the next few days we will know what is happening with Calum. He is a very good, young player, but he needs to play regularly."

Elliot made 34 appearances for Hearts last season, but has fallen down the pecking order since Ivanauskas took over from Graham Rix. Michal Pospisil, Juho Makela and the recent signing Mauricio Pinilla are all available as cover for the first-choice striking partnership of Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar. The latter, who was out injured for much of last season, is in particularly good form just now, and has just been called up to the Czech national squad. "This is big news, and Roman is delighted," Ivanauskas added. "He's working so hard. He had a very good pre-season, he has chances in every game, and I'm very happy with him."

The coach was also pleased to welcome Paul Hartley back to training for the first time yesterday as the midfielder prepares to return from injury. Hartley's presence at the session at Riccarton provided a morale-boost for the whole squad, and although he may not be involved in this afternoon's match, he should come into contention for next weekend's game at Ibrox if he comes through a bounce match on Tuesday.

Brellier has got over the bug which ruled him out of the AEK match and should start against Falkirk, but Deividas Cesnauskis, who missed that game for the same reason, is only rated 50-50 by Ivanauskas. Both teams have won their first two matches, and are behind St Mirren on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Romanov, the Hearts owner, said he hoped the squad would bounce back quickly from the disappointment of losing to AEK Athens. "Our team was not ready for the game - we could all see it," Romanov said.

"Brellier couldn't play because of a high temperature. And it's a pity about Bruno Aguiar being sent off. Of course this was not the main reason why we lost, But I believe we are going to be ready for the game in Athens in two weeks and we'll do our best there. Difficulties only make strong people stronger, and I hope this will be the case with Hearts."

Romanov added that he did not know if Andy Webster had finalised terms with Wigan Athletic, but wished the player well. "I don't know if he's signed for Wigan already, but if he has, we're glad that he's found a club that suits him better.

"We've got very good players, for example we have [Christophe] Berra, so good luck to Andy with his future."

Taken from the Scotsman