Ivanauskas warns Vlad over quality of recruits

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS today warned of the danger of filling squad numbers for the sake of it at Hearts before the closure of the transfer window tomorrow.

The Lithuanian insists he is not in need of more new players from majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov unless they are of outstanding quality. In the last two weeks, Romanov has made three loan signings from FBK Kaunas, Marius Zaliukas, Andrius Velicka and Kestutis Ivaskevicius.

With his squad gradually swelling and his mind recalling Romanov's eight-man signing spree before the closure of the last transfer window, Ivanauskas has stated that Hearts must focus on quality and not quantity.

"We have a big squad and we must be very careful about bringing in new players," said the head coach. "If you have new players and they don't get to play it's not good for the team. From last season and this season the spirit in the team is fine, so if new players come in they must be ready to play the Hearts way. Hearts is a special team.

"We had interest in a lot of players but it hasn't been easy. We have tried but if no more players arrive then it will be no problem. When all the players come back from injury we will have a large squad full of quality. I would be happy to continue with the squad I have."

Edgaras Jankauskas will miss the first leg of Hearts' UEFA Cup tie with Sparta Prague as well as Lithuania's opening two European Championship qualifiers due to a thigh injury.

The striker underwent medical tests at his national team's training camp ahead of their qualifiers against Italy on Saturday and Scotland next Wednesday and scans have revealed a small tear to his thigh muscle.

"I really wanted to play for Lithuania, but the recurrence of this old injury has stopped me," he said. "I will be out for at least a month." The injury is likely to ensure a race for Jankauskas to be fit for the second leg against Sparta Prague on September 28.

There was better news on the injury front, however, with assistant coach John McGlynn revealing that Christophe Berra and Michal Pospisil, who both missed the weekend's win over Inverness Caley Thistle, will be fit for the Jambos' next match against St Mirren.

McGlynn said: "Christophe twisted his ankle in the last minute against Athens but he's fine now and Pospisil should be back for the St Mirren match."

Meanwhile, youth goalkeeper Haraldur Björnsson was voted best goalkeeper whilst on duty for Iceland at an under-18 international tournament in the Czech Republic last week. The teenager impressed in a competition that included reputable sides such as the hosts, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.

Hearts' youth academy director, John Murray, said: "Haraldur has done well since he arrived here and has improved steadily.

"This is a nice accolade for him. He is a very conscientious worker and is always keen to learn."

Björnsson is understood to be in negotiations about an extension to his Hearts contract that would keep him at the club until 2011.

Taken from the Scotsman