Frail: Misfiring Hearts strike force must get tuned up

By BARRY ANDERSON
STEPHEN FRAIL has warned Hearts' under-performing strikers to lift their game and provide him with more options alongside top goalscorer Andrius Velicka.
The interim manager feels let down by misfiring forwards who have forced him to employ Velicka as a lone striker in recent games against Hibs and Motherwell.

Michal Pospisil's departure and Calum Elliot's suspension leave Frail with even fewer alternatives for tomorrow's trip to Aberdeen, however, he will contemplate a return to his favoured 4-4-2 formation.

Christian Nade appears the most likely candidate to partner Velicka with Audrius Ksanavicius suffering fatigue and Ricardas Beniusis and Juho Makela remaining on the fringes of the squad.

Frail insists whoever plays in attack must improve their performance level.

"Two forwards is something I'm considering for tomorrow," he said. "The players know the reason why I've gone with this shape recently and not with two strikers. Up until a few weeks ago we had Michal Pospisil, Calum Elliot, Christian Nade and Velicka. There is a lack of form there with some of them.

"The striking situation is a test for me as well. On Tuesday night against Motherwell, I was trying to think of ways to change things. Coming up to half-time I knew I was changing it, I knew I was going 4-4-2 for the second half. It just didn't quite come off."

Deividas Cesnauskis is almost certainly out of tomorrow's match. He contracted a virus earlier this week and hasn't trained since Wednesday.

Hearts are more hopeful over Andy Driver's recovery from a groin problem. "He has a better chance of making it than Cesnauskis," said Frail, who was encouraged by Nade's contribution as a half-time substitute on Tuesday.

"He showed what he can do. We need to see more of that because we see it in training at times," he said. "He has power and pace and did give Motherwell an uncomfortable time so he'll be in contention for Aberdeen."

Whilst keen to be involved at Pittodrie, Nade stressed that personal achievements are secondary to team welfare.

"I hope that I play this weekend, I have scored against Aberdeen once this season and I would like the opportunity to face them again," said the Frenchman.

"I
don't normally set myself targets, for me it is more important how the team does as a whole. All I can ask for from this season is that we finish in the top half of the table, as high up as possible.."

Ksanavicius is another option for tomorrow, although Frail conceded the FBK Kaunas player is suffering physically due to months of football in Lithuania last year.

"Ksanavicius has looked tired of late, which might be down to fatigue," he said. "You have to remember he played in Lithuania last year and then came here to start a full season."

Suspended Marius Zaliukas is Hearts' only other absentee.

• LARRY KINGSTON will miss Ghana's African Nations' Cup match against Morocco on Monday after being booked in yesterday's 's 1-0 win over Namibia. He received his second caution of the tournament for taking a free-kick too quickly and will sit out the hosts' final Group A game.

Taken from the Scotsman