CLUB LINK CRUCIAL FOR PRESSLEY

CALUM ELLIOT reckons Scotland can cash in on the fact several of the Lithuania team play for Hearts.

Tonight's clash has added spice for Tynecastle players given the fact the likes of Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon could face their club colleagues from the Baltic state.

Saulius Mikoliunas, David Cesnauskis and Marius Zaliukas are all in the squad for the Euro qualifier in Kaunas. And Elliot, currently on loan from Hearts at Motherwell, believes Jambos defender Pressley will put knowledge of his club-mates to good use.

He said: "It'll be strange for a lot of the Hearts boys to be playing each other but in away it will help guys like Elvis and Paul as they know the way guys like Miko play.

"The Scots lads will be desperate to win and have the bragging rights in the dressing room when they come back to Riccarton.

"But it will be the same for the Lithuanians, they know what a win could do for them to wind up a few of the Scots players at Hearts."

Elliot reckons Scotland can be thankful they won't have to worry about keeping Hearts striker Edgar Jankauskas at bay with the Lithuanian out injured.

He said: "It's a bonus for Scotland that Edgar is not playing. He is one of their most talented players and will be a big miss for them."

Taken from the Daily Record