Hartley reveals his kiss-and-make-up session with Brown

IN THE last Edinburgh derby, Paul Hartley and Scott Brown had the sort of verbal altercation which can lead to years of on-pitch niggling. But, while it might be misleading to claim the pair have kissed and made up since, it is at least the case, as Hartley explained yesterday, that they now have a mutual respect.

That match at Easter Road was, predictably enough, a rancorous occasion, coming as it did just weeks after Hearts' 4-0 win in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Hartley had scored a hat-trick that day at Hampden, but Hibs got a small measure of revenge by winning the league encounter 2-1.

As the home fans celebrated in song by suggesting Hartley was not heterosexual, Brown joined in by blowing a kiss at his midfield rival. It was a frustrating time for Hartley, but, six months on, as he looked ahead to the first Edinburgh derby since that spring afternoon, he was able to look back with a fair amount of good humour.

"They've got a few songs about me at Easter Road," Hartley recalled, laughing. "I won't mention them, but I'm still denying it. No change."

More seriously, having picked up two more Scotland caps in the games against France and Ukraine, he suggested there would soon be an increased involvement of Edinburgh-based players in the national side. "There were six players from Hearts and Hibs with Scotland in midweek, and I think that's good for the two Edinburgh clubs," he said.

"I'm sure it won't be too long till Scott Brown is a regular in the Scotland team, because I've seen him at first hand in training and he's a fantastic prospect.

"We've spoken quite a bit since we've been away. I've got to know him a bit better over the last ten days and he's a really nice lad. We've had a few run-ins in the past on the pitch, and I'm sure it'll happen again on Sunday, but after the game we'll have a chat and forget about it.

"You don't laugh on the pitch at the time but you can have a laugh about things afterwards, and over the last ten days we've had a few conversations regarding the games that we've played in. I didn't mention the semi-final."

Brown, had he wanted to be similarly diplomatic, would have had to refrain from mentioning any match at Easter Road between the clubs since late 2002. Hearts have not won there in the ensuing four years, but Hartley is confident they are in form to put an end to that barren spell.

"We've not had a great record at Easter Road in my four years at the club, and last season's games there" - Hearts lost both league matches - "were low points.

"I played there in only the second game of my Hearts career, and I didn't play particularly well, as the manager then let me know.

"It's going to be a tough game as all Edinburgh derbies are. Tony Mowbray was a well-liked manager, but it's part and parcel of football and you just get on with it. The Hibs players will miss him, but I don't think it will affect them too much on Sunday."

Hearts will be close to full strength, with the main concern for the coach, Valdas Ivanauskas, being who he plays up front. Ivanauskas will assess the fitness of Mauricio Pinilla today before finalising his line-up, as the striker was only expected back in Edinburgh last night after playing for Chile in midweek. The choice of strikers is complicated by the fact that Edgaras Jankauskas, although now injury-free, is seriously short of match practice.

"I'll need to see Mauricio and talk with him. It's difficult, because it's a long flight and there's the time difference as well. Edgaras has done well this week, but for the full game he needs time. I'm happy with him, but he needs game practice.

"We'll have a discussion after training and it's possible he'll be in the squad. We need players who are 100 per cent fit and fresh physically and mentally. I don't like statistics. Yes, it's a long time since Hearts won at Easter Road, but we are looking very positive and we are ready."

Asked how he would try to counter the midfield threat of such players as Brown and Kevin Thomson, Ivanauskas suggested his plans would be more about making best use of his own team's strengths rather than seeking to annul those of his opponents. "We don't need to look at Hibs. Yes, it's a good young team, but I have my team and for me Hibs must look out for Hearts."

Taken from the Scotsman