Time is right for Hearts ace Robbie, says Ivanauskas

THE Hearts management team today endorsed Robbie Neilson as the natural successor to Graham Alexander in Scotland's right-back berth.

Neilson, 26, is in Walter Smith's squad for the European Championship qualifiers with the Faroe Islands at Celtic Park tomorrow and Lithuania in Kaunas next Wednesday, his principal aim being to challenge 34-year-old Alexander for the right-back role.

Smith is expected to favour Alexander's experience ahead of the uncapped Hearts defender from the start tomorrow, but that hasn't deterred Valdas Ivanauskas and John McGlynn from predicting a prosperous international future for a player they believe is one of the finest Scottish full-backs around.

Ivanauskas will attend Celtic Park to closely monitor his players - Neilson, Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley - and, despite Hearts' frantic start to their domestic and European campaigns, he hopes to see all of them play some part against the Faroes.

"I think the other three will definitely start but I hope Robbie plays too," said Ivanauskas. "He has been accepted into the Scotland squad because he did well for us last season, he did well in pre-season and the Scotland manager knows this. I hope to see him make his debut and I hope it will be from the start.

"In my opinion, he is one of the best right-backs in this country."

McGlynn added: "We knew Walter Smith had been watching Robbie for quite a while.

"Over the years Robbie has just got better and better and his tackle in the Scottish Cup final really won over the fans dramatically for him. He's been extremely consistent for us and it's great to see him get recognition with Scotland. If he plays, he won't let anyone down."

Ivanauskas noted the release of the South Korean forward Ahn Jung-hwan from MSV Duisburg in Germany yesterday, but with the transfer window closed the Lithuanian has no intention of rekindling his interest in a player who can now sign for another club as a free agent.

"We had interest in him but we have filled his position," said the head coach. "Over the last couple of days strikers were not a big attraction for us because we hoped to get players in for other positions. But I am happy with the squad I have."

Roman Bednar has become a permanent member of the Tynecastle staff after spending over a year on loan from the Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas, who are heavily financed by Vladimir Romanov. Bednar had a clause in his Kaunas contract which ensured he was instantly loaned to Hearts at the start of each season, but Romanov has moved to make the Czech an official Hearts player by handing him a four-year contract.

Bednar said: "I have never hidden the fact that I love playing football with Hearts. I have great team-mates and I believe that following last season's success we can continue to develop."

Meanwhile, the agent of Togolese international midfielder Jacques Alexis Romao has confirmed why his client did not continue contract negotiations with Hearts. Frederic Dobraje said: "Discussions were ended after Hearts were eliminated from the Champions League."

Sparta Prague were expected to announce their new head coach today after the sacking of Stanislav Griga yesterday. Michal Bilek, currently coach of Viktoria Pilzen, has emerged amongst the favourites for the position.

Taken from the Scotsman