ELLIOT'S UEFA CUP AMBITION

CALUM ELLIOT is keeping his fingers crossed that Hearts beat Sparta Prague on Thursday - because he hopes to play in the UEFA Cup on his return from Motherwell.

The Scotland Under-19 cap was farmed out to the Fir Park club prior to the closure of the August transfer window and has been green with envy over his colleagues' participation in the competition.

The Jambos face a huge task in attempting to stay in Europe after losing 2-0 to the Czechs in the first leg at Murrayfield.

But Elliot, who hit his first goal for Well in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Dundee United, is praying the club will still be in the tournament when his loan deal expires in January.

He said: "I hope the boys can go to Prague and get a result. I am still a Hearts player and my loan deal is only until January. When I go back, I want them still to be playing in Europe.

"We have the players and the character within the squad to go there and get a result. Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley and Steven Pressley are inspirational and can have a positive influence on the other players."

As his Hearts pals prepared for their European trip, Elliot returned to training yesterday with a smile on his face after finding the net at the weekend.

He added: "I have not been at my best since my move to Fir Park but hopefully my form will pick up and I will soon show the fans here what I can do because I am desperate to do well.

"I don't know why I have struggled a bit so far. I did not start off the season that well with Hearts last year and, at the moment, my confidence is not that great.

"But I would like to think I can turn it around soon.

"I have not really spoken to Maurice Malpas about it at the moment, he is just letting me get on with things."

Taken from the Daily Record