Mark Wilson

If Christophe Berra produces more displays of the class and authority shown against Rangers, then worries over not being paid on time by Vladimir Romanov's regime may not figure long in his life.

Hearts' young captain led by outstanding example in Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Tynecastle, aerially dominating Madjid Bougherra to create both goals for his side and repelling the Ibrox club's increasingly desperate attempts to find a late leveller against their 10-man hosts.

It was the kind of all-action leadership in which Steven Pressley once specialised before his acrimonious expulsion from Romanov's circle of trust.

Berra would doubtless depart Tynecastle on much better terms. Offers to make such a scenario possible could well be forthcoming in the January transfer window.

Wolves, now pushing hard for a place in the Premier League, tried and failed to sign the 23-yearold centre-back during the close season, while Fulham have also been mentioned as suitors for his impressively developing talents.

Berra insisted that the ambition to succeed, both personally and with Hearts, had easily outweighed any disenchantment at his salary again not being in the bank when it should have been.

Firm assurances, he said, had been given that the money, due on Friday, would arrive in the players' accounts this morning.

In any case, the chance to prove his worth against Old Firm opposition was not one he was about to be distracted from.

Having done that emphatically, Berra can have only attracted more attention from south of the border.

'If players are doing well, then you will create speculation,' said Berra.

'But there's no point dwelling on the past - the Wolves move didn't happen in the summer and that's life.

'I'm still only 23 and want to improve as a player. That means working hard in training and in games. I feel I have been doing that.

'No matter who I play for in the future, I will always give 100 per cent. I always want to be the best I can be.

'Even today, there are things I feel I could have done better. It's the players who look at their mistakes and try to improve who will go to the highest level.

'I'm not saying that I want to leave the club. I've been here for a long time and I am enjoying working under the manager.'

Boss Csaba Laszlo quipped he had made so much money working in Africa that he had not checked his account to see if he had been paid.

For others, though, it is not a laughing matter. Berrareas reassured some of the younger members of the Hearts squad about the cash delay - which follows a similar wait in September - but lauded the focus shown in deservedly downing Rangers to claim a fifth straight win.

'That just proves what kind of squad we have here,' he insisted. 'We have character. OK, we did not got our money on Friday but we're getting it on Monday. Any professional sportsman still wants to win when they go out there on a Saturday.

'There are a lot of young players here with ambition. You never know who could be watching from the stands. There is also your own pride and the fact you want to improve every week.

'Obviously, the money factor has happened before but we are all professional. If players came here with that on their mind and thinking they didn't want to play, then those are not players you want at the club. Thankfully, we don't have anyone like that.

'As soon as you cross the white line, you want three points. You want to do the best you can in your job and I think we did that.

'The money is there and was getting processed on Friday. The bank didn't have time to complete that but we have been assured we will be paid on Monday morning.

It's not a concern just now. We'll enjoy this win and then get back to working towards the Motherwell game.'

In front of Berra, Bruno Aguiar was almost as excellent in midfield. The former Benfica playmaker was ably supported by Laryea Kingston in the Ghana international's return from injury.

'Every team needs creative players. Bruno and Larry do that for us,' said Berra.

'Andy Driver, on his day, is another who can commit players with his pace.

'Bruno and Larry have the quality to see things early. They have the ability to deliver a cutting pass. Today, Bruno delivered two great balls for the goals.

'You can't say it's just down to them, but they helped us a lot. The whole midfield did really well to stop Pedro Mendes and Barry Ferguson from playing. Rangers didn't once cut us open.'