VEL WORTH THE WAIT AT HEARTS

PATIENT Andrius Velicka reckons he's better off sitting on the bench at Hearts than starring every week for old club FBK Kaunas.

The on-loan striker has made just two competitive appearances for the Jambos since his summer arrival and hopes to make it three in today's Edinburgh derby.

But with SIX other hitmen battling for a place it would be no surprise if he has to sit out.

Yet despite his frustration at a lack of first-team action Velicka insists he is better off fighting for a place here than playing regularly in Lithuania.

He said: "It's better to stay at Hearts. When you have lots of players fighting for one place you try harder to improve.

"It is a different level here with a higher quality of players.

"The training facilities are also great and the overall experience is better at Tynecastle.

"A lot of the players at Kaunas would love to come here.

"The game is more physical and faster. You need to fight more but it wasn't difficult for me to adapt because these qualities suit my game."

Velicka says a run-out in today's Easter Road clash would be the biggest game of his career.

And he admits nothing has prepared him for the reception that awaits Hearts in Leith.

He said: "In Kaunas the derby between FBK and Zalgiris is not an emotional game.

"In Scotland it's much more important, something the fans and players look forward to.

"The best atmosphere I have played in was at Murrayfield in a friendly against Osasuna."

Taken from the Sunday Mail