BEDNAR LATE THAN NEVER

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS insists Roman Bednar's first international call-up is long overdue - because he should have been playing in the World Cup finals.

Coach Karel Bruckner has included the Hearts striker in his Czech Republic squad for the first time after his sensational start to the season.

Bednar, once described by former Tynecastle boss George Burley as the best young player he had ever worked with, has already scored four times and is in line to win his first cap against Serbia in midweek.

The 23-year-old is on course to become the first Hearts striker since John Robertson in 1991-92 to score 20 goals in a season. Bednar's goal haul included a double against champions Celtic last week and he's looking to add to his tally again against Falkirk today as the Jambos bid to shake off their Champions League hangover.

Head coach Ivanauskas said: "Roman has been working very hard but he was doing the same at the end of last season and there was no reason he should not have been in the Czech squad for the World Cup finals.

"Of course, it's difficult at that level because they have players such as Jan Koller and Milan Baros but I still felt he was ready for their World Cup squad.

"At the start of last season he had to cope with some injuries but his preparation in pre-season this time has been perfect. He'll get a lot of chances to score a lot of goals this year because he's making good opportunities in every game.

"Roman isn't your typical goalscorer - he's not a penalty box striker like Ally McCoist.

"He has to work very hard to find the net and he's doing that. He's similar to me when I played, size-wise at least.

"As a former striker, I'm happy to pass on anything I know to help him improve even more. We have five or six sources of goals in the team, not just Roman but in the midfield and other strikers such as Edgaras Jankauskas, Michal Pospisil and Calum Elliot.

"Edgaras and Michal may not have scored yet but once they get one they'll go on to score lots more."

Ivanauskas has targeted nine points from nine in the SPL before most of his first-team squad head off on international duty next week.

He has called on his players to put their poor performance in the 2-1 first-leg defeat against AEK Athens in their Champions League qualifier behind them for the next 10 days.

Ivanauskas said: "We've got to forget Wednesday now. The next leg is another 10 days away and we have important SPL games to play against Falkirk and Rangers.

"The reaction from the players in the past two days has been good and taking three points from every game is important to us, as everyone saw last week against Celtic."

Midfield star Paul Hartley has re-joined the first-team squad for the first time since picking up a groin injury earlier this summer but the Falkirk game is likely to come to soon and he has been pencilled in for a return against Rangers at Ibrox.

Julien Brellier has recovered from the virus that kept him out of the AEK game while Deividas Cesnauskis, who also missed the Greek crunch with the bug, is rated 50-50.

LeeWallace made his first league start of the season against Celtic and the Scotland Under-19 starlet admits he is keen to make up for lost time this term.

The full-back admits his confidence took a dent when he was used only sparingly last year after breaking into team the season before but he's flying high again after making the European Championship Final with Archie Gemmill's kids.

Hearts showed how highly they rate Wallace when they refused Dundee United's request to take him on loan and handed him a new five-year contract.

Wallace said: "I took a lot of confidence from being part of the squad that made it to the finals, espe-cially as I was a wee bit low last season.

"I've been showing off my medal to my pals and keeping in regular contact with the lads in the squad.

"I was involved in the first team at Hearts last season but not as regularly as the year before. It was understandable as a lot of changes were made, a lot of money was spent and quality players such as Takis Fyssas arrived at the club.

"Takis has gone on to be a massive influence on me and hands out valuable advice on and off the park. He's a great player, a European Championship winner, and there's no better man to learn from.

"I'm more than happy to stay at Hearts as Valdas has assured me I'm part of his future plans."

Wallace has also been used in the centre of midfield and admits he doesn't mind where he plays as long as it's in the first team.

He said: "I'm quite comfortable in the middle of the park as I grew up playing on the left of midfield and know my way around the position.

"Hopefully I'll get the chance to play against Falkirk and we want to repay the fans for their support against AEK. Everyone was gutted in the dressing room afterwards but Valdas and senior players such as Steven Pressley and Takis reminded us the game is over two legs and we can still do it over there.

"But we can't wait to return to Tynecastle and bounce back against Falkirk. Both teams are on six points and it's important we stay top of the league."

Taken from the Daily Record