Proud Pressley eyes Hearts cap milestone in Kaunas

THERE must have been times in Steven Pressley's career when he thought he would not win a single Scotland cap, never mind win so many he would set a record for his club. On Saturday, though, the Hearts captain turned out for his country for the 29th time, and in doing so equalled the mark held by Bobby Walker, perhaps the Edinburgh club's greatest ever player, since 1913.

Presuming he suffers no reaction from a double knock to his shoulder and head which required treatment in the first half against the Faroe Islands, Pressley will establish a new Hearts record of 30 caps against Lithuania on Wednesday, at the same time as David Weir, his partner in central defence and former Tynecastle team-mate, will make his 50th appearance. "I was a late starter, but I'm thoroughly enjoying my football, and hopefully it will not be the end at 30 caps," Pressley said after Scotland's 6-0 victory at Celtic Park. "I think you appreciate it more if you're a late developer."

Having become the embodiment of the Hearts team in recent seasons, the Tynecastle captain is well aware of the quality of some of the international players who went before him. He had known for a while that Walker's record was within his reach, he explained.

"I'd read a piece in the programme a number of months ago which said the record was 29, and I was only just one or two games away from it then. It's something I'm very proud of. There have been some fantastic players who have played for Hearts over the years, so to achieve that will be a great honour.

"I was very pleased with that [equalling of the record], and with the performance," Pressley continued. "We gave a very professional performance. In the second half they proved they're very difficult to break down, but by that time the job was done.

"I was a wee bit concerned at half-time about the knock I took, but if my shoulder is OK hopefully I'll play on Wednesday, when it will be great for David Weir to reach the milestone of 50 caps.

"It's important for us to go there and try and achieve the three points. It's not going to be an easy game, but we will try for the three points.If we take care of the teams around us in the group it will give us an opportunity."

Pressley's team-mate Paul Hartley, now close to full match fitness following a long injury lay-off, paid tribute to his captain's achievement in equalling the club record. "Elvis loves playing for his country, as I do. He's thriving on it, and it's fantastic if he becomes the most-capped Hearts player of all time."

Both Hartley and Pressley will be familiar with several members of the Lithuanian side, although Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas will miss the match in Kaunas on Wednesday through injury.

Valdas Ivanauskas, the Hearts coach, was at Celtic Park taking copious notes in his role as adviser to the Lithuanian management team, but there was surely little new he could add in the way of technical detail to a dossier on Scotland. For Hartley, the crucial thing as the midweek match approaches is that the Scots are again playing with some belief in their own ability. "The Faroes game is going to give us confidence," he said. "It's always nice to win, and it's especially satisfying when you're 5-0 up at half-time.

"I'm told the pitch for Wednesday's game isn't as good as Parkhead. In fact I've heard it's horrendous. I think it will be a typically British style of game, and we'll just have to keep our temperament."

Taken from the Scotsman