Elliot out of Livingston cup tie as Hearts invoke loan agreement clause

Ed Hodge
ON-LOAN striker Calum Elliot was yesterday blocked by Hearts from playing in the Scottish Cup today ahead of Livingston's tie at East Stirlingshire.
The Scotland Under-21 feels he has no future back at Tynecastle, yet the SPL outfit faxed Livingston at lunchtime yesterday to say his loan agreement does not allow him to play in the Scottish Cup.

If Elliot took the field at Ochilview this afternoon, he would be cup-tied meaning he could not play for Hearts in later rounds of the competition.

Elliot was left mystified at the situation, given the fact he has trained all week with Roberto Landi's side and was set to play a key role for the injury-hit Lions against the Third Division team.

The 21-year-old even conducted a press conference at the club yesterday and was being photographed holding the Scottish Cup, before a Livi staff member intervened to stop the photo-call and explained the fax.

Elliot, who played for Livingston in a Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat at Celtic in September, will be left to frustratingly kick his heels on the sidelines today wondering what his future holds.

The youngster appears to have been told he will not be going back to Hearts – his loan is up in January – but yesterday's developments perhaps hinted that Csaba Laszlo in fact does see a role for him next year as the Hearts manager struggles to find a regular goalscorer for his side.

Elliot, who has scored an impressive eight goals in 10 appearances at Almondvale, is contracted to Hearts until the summer of 2011 but his confidence was hit last season when he was booed by his own supporters.

The Edinburgh-born forward would be keen to stay on at Livingston and claimed his Hearts career seems to be over, before then learning of the fax from Edinburgh.

He said: "I think it's obvious my future is away from Hearts. That's the way it's been going and it's probably now clear.

"I'm quite happy at Livingston and if I have to stay here for the season I'd like to do that. One of the reasons I came here was to play football, be part of a good team spirit and we've got that here.

"I just want to concentrate on playing football and doing well for Livingston.

"I want to focus on doing well and whatever happens in January will happen."

Asked if he is surprised Laszlo has not recalled him this week given Hearts' striking difficulties, he added: "Nothing surprises me with Hearts, but it's not for me to say why they haven't called me back."

Taken from the Scotsman