Kaunas coup on Pressley's mind

WITH the greatest respect to the Faroe Islands, the occasionally parochial nature of inner-club rivalry decrees that a certain match in Kaunas next week has become immovable from the minds of Hearts' Scotland representatives. And their Lithuanian ones too, no doubt.

A week from now in the St Darius & St Girenas Stadium, up to seven Tynecastle employees could be in direct confrontation when Lithuania entertain Scotland in European Championship qualifying Group B. Edgaras Jankauskas' groin will preclude him from the home side, but Saulius Mikoliunas, Deividas Cesnauskis and recent arrival Marius Zaliukas can expect to feature on the night. Opposing them will almost certainly be their club-mates Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley, with Robbie Neilson's prospects for inclusion rated as fair to medium. Upon reflection, it is difficult to recall an international match ever taking place with so many players from a singular club spread across both sides.

Even with the previously problematical Faroes up first at Celtic Park this weekend, the second of the national team's double header takes on far more significance when speaking in a strictly Hearts context. That's what Pressley did in momentarily disregarding the Faroes to reveal some of the implications that have arose in the Tynecastle dressing room since his country was drawn to play that which most influences the hierarchy of his club.

"One of the most important things about next Wednesday is the bragging rights in the Tynecastle dressing room," smiled Pressley wryly. "We have to return on Thursday and we'll see all the Lithuanian players when we get in. It's vital I have bragging rights when I return.

"The wind-ups have started but I can't reveal what's been said. For Scotland six points aren't an absolute must but it's very important we try to achieve that to give ourselves the opportunity to progress. The games that people expect us to win, we have to win."

Jankauskas' absence prevents Pressley from engaging in what would have been an engrossing physical conflict with his club colleague in Kaunas. The Lithuanian is officially contracted to the club who reside at the St Darius & St Girenas Stadium, FBK Kaunas, but it is down in Gorgie where he has been greatly missed of late.

"At club level he has unfortunately been plagued by injuries so far this season and only made a few appearances. He's a key player for Hearts so it's disappointing that he's out, but I would have loved to face him over there. He's obviously a key player for Lithuania and he'll be a big miss for them, too."

The enthusiasm for tackling a giant like Jankauskas and for toppling the Lithuanian national team in general says much about the resident will to win that still exists within the Hearts captain at the age of 32. Although next Wednesday could easily develop into something of a Hearts love-in, Scotland's initial task in the east end of Glasgow is more than enough to exercise the mind.

The national team can boast an unbeaten record against the Faroe Islands since the countries first met back in October 1994. But four victories and two draws from seven encounters tells only half the story, for the tiny Danish dependency have enjoyed their frightening habit of upsetting us since the tenure of Craig Brown.

Pressley, who was speaking at the launch of the Hearts Education and Community Trust, admits to being possibly the only Scottish benefactor from the cliff-top horror show in Toftir four years ago, when Scotland were forced to fight back from 2-0 down to salvage a barely credible 2-2 draw at the start of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

"Berti had just become manager before the 2-2 game in Toftir and I has been out with a back injury so I missed out on some early squads. It was on the back of the 2-2 result that I found myself involved in the next game against Iceland. I was hoping to be involved in Reykjavik anyway regardless of the result in Toftir.

"Obviously after the Faroes game David Weir decided he didn't want to continue and that gave me an opportunity to go not just into the squad but directly into the team. So I've never played against the Faroes before." He took the time to add the word "thankfully" a few seconds later.

But although many Scottish supporters will carry a smattering of trepidation with them to Celtic Park, Pressley is perhaps approaching the game at the best possible juncture. Satisfied with how the domestic campaign has begun in Edinburgh, an international break allows ample time for reflection.

"I'm feeling great," he continued. "At this moment in time Hearts are sitting level on points with Celtic at the top of the league, so it's been a very positive start when you consider the amount of games we've had to contend with in the last few weeks. I don't think we've hit top form in terms of our performances but the very encouraging thing from our point of view is that we have still managed to pick up the points. I think there's plenty more to come from us. For example, we didn't return until seven in the morning from Athens last week so you lose a full night's sleep. Taking that into account I think beating Inverness 4-1 was a remarkable result for us.

"I want to take that confidence into the Scotland squad. Personally, I'm really enjoying my football at this moment in time, I'm feeling fit and looking forward to the game on Saturday first of all.

"We know the Faroes will frustrate us and try to contain us any way they can. The onus is on us to break them down. We certainly have players capable of scoring and if we provide for them then I'm sure we'll win the game."

Then it's on to Kaunas, and a match in which losing is not an option if you happen ply your trade at Tynecastle.

Taken from the Scotsman