Hearts handed a timely boost

PAUL Hartley, the Scotland international midfielder, could today hand Hearts a massive lift by playing his first competitive match in over three months.

Tynecastle head coach Valdas Ivanauskas has included the influential 29-year-old in his squad for today's trip to face Rangers and will make a late decision on whether to hand him a chance from the start at Ibrox.

Hartley last played in Hearts' dramatic Scottish Cup final penalty shoot-out victory over Gretna on 13 May before missing the start of the new campaign with a niggling groin problem.

The player admitted to feeling tired after coming through a 45-minute run-out in a bounce game against Gretna on Tuesday, but Ivanauskas has seen enough to name Hartley in his travelling pool.

If Hartley does feature in Glasgow, it raises the prospect he could play a key role in the club's Champions League third round qualifying second leg clash against AEK Athens on Wednesday.

The Gorgie outfit trail 2-1 from the first leg at Murrayfield and would dearly love to call on Hartley's creative influence for the daunting prospect of overturning the deficit at the 75,000-capacity Olympic Stadium.

Ivanauskas said: "Paul Hartley is back in the squad for Rangers. He played on Tuesday for 45 minutes against Gretna, so I think 90 minutes will be very hard for him, but we will wait and see. It's very good news for the team as well as for Paul as it helps our confidence.

"We will give the player as much time as he needs in order to get as ready as is necessary. The player feels ready, but I need to look at it from the manager's perspective and the medical point of view."

Hearts, top of the table on goal difference, were booed off the park after last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Falkirk at Tynecastle. But Ivanauskas is relishing the prospect of the visit to a struggling Rangers side who have drawn their last two matches - and a first meeting with Frenchman Paul Le Guen.

"Every game at Ibrox is a special game," he added. "We feel the confidence of being first in the league, although I know the fans expected us to win last week.

"I've unfortunately not had a chance to meet Paul Le Guen before, but I have big respect for him, especially for his success at Lyon. I respect his skills and him being here is only for the benefit of Scottish football." Ivanauskas is now aiming to build on the start to the club's domestic season as he moves to put another stressful week of off-field distractions behind him.

Former Hearts midfielder Lee Johnson, in a parting shot after leaving Tynecastle to join Bristol City this week, claimed that majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov was behind many of the team selections at the club.

Fans are also growing concerned at the number of Lithuanian players at Hearts, with six now on board after the arrival of new signing Marius Zaliukas, who joined on loan from FBK Kaunas this week.

"There are different reasons why people go and there are always different reactions, this is typical," added Ivanauskas. "Lee was here for a very short time and he is now gone. I wish him all the best, that is all I will say.

"In terms of the Lithuanians, there are always questions like this. But last year we had a lot of Czech players here. I think Lithuanian players, who I know, have the mentality to work well together here. We have very big, high quality Scottish characters here and the Lithuanians only add to that."

One player who seems to be on his way out of Tynecastle, temporarily at least, is teenage striker Calum Elliot, who is set to go on loan next week with Dunfermline Athletic and Motherwell lurking.

Ivanauskas said: "Calum had a great season last season and he worked very hard in pre-season. But in my opinion, he needs regular games, it is very important for him. However, he is very young and he needs to find a team that is good for him so we will discuss it next week."

Taken from the Scotsman