Cesnauskis wants to stay at Hearts but admits he could be told to go

STUART BATHGATE
DEIVIDAS Cesnauskis believes that Hearts' hopes of finishing third in the SPL this season could be dashed if the squad is broken up when the transfer window opens.

The 27-year-old and his fellow Lithuanians Marius Zaliukas and Saulius Mikoliunas have been named by Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov as three players who are likely to be moved on next month, while Laryea Kingston, Christophe Berra and Andrew Driver could also be the subjects of offers.

But Cesnauskis, who is coming to the end of his fourth year with the club, wants to stay longer himself, and fears that the good work done since Csaba Laszlo took over as manager could all be unravelled if key players are allowed to leave. "Every player is important to keep in the squad, of course," said the winger, who is in the Hearts squad which visits Aberdeen this afternoon.

"Now the team is playing as one squad and playing well. And if we sold two or three guys from the team it would be quite difficult to finish in third place. Maybe we bring in other new players, but that's another question. I would rather see the current squad kept together.

"We will see what will happen. I think it would be sad if the squad was broken up, but I believe everything will be OK."

Although he made an early impact on joining Hearts, Cesnauskis has had long spells out with injuries. At least partly because of those injuries he has struggled to produce his best form consistently, but he believes he still has something to offer the club, and if given the choice would stay on in Edinburgh.

"I like Hearts and I like it here. If there is a chance to stay here, I stay here. But if something happens with me to go out, I go. When the transfer window is open maybe the club wants to sell somebody – maybe me also. But we'll see what interest there may be from other clubs."

Far from selling players, Cesnauskis is keen for Hearts to acquire more, with a striker being the priority for him – as indeed it is for Laszlo. "Christian Nade is a good player, but we need more quality strikers. There is too much pressure on him."

That pressure is in part brought about by Laszlo's preference for a 4-5-1 system in which Nade is the sole target man, but auxiliary strikers have also failed to give the Frenchman the support he needs.

The stress on Nade was evident in Hearts' last match, the scoreless draw with Dundee United, when Laszlo substituted him after he was booked for a challenge on Paul Dixon which on another day could have merited a dismissal, and had an exchange of words with United manager Craig Levein. "I totally understand why the boss did that and he was right," Nade told the Hearts website, www.heartsfc.co.uk, yesterday.

"I was upset at the time as I wanted to play in what was a very important game for us, but I was taken off after half an hour. Although I calmed down very quickly afterwards, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did and I think the manager's decision was the right one for me and the team. Had I stayed on I might have got sent off."

Having had more than an hour to calm down, Nade was able to apologise to Levein for his rash behaviour after the end of the match. "I spoke to him afterwards and said sorry for being so disrespectful," Nade added. "I didn't get a chance to speak to the Dundee United player, but I am just glad he wasn't hurt."

United are ahead of Hearts in third place on goal difference, with Aberdeen four points behind and Hibs five adrift. Cesnauskis thinks the fight for third will be between those four, and thinks that – transfer policy permitting – Hearts can come out on top.

"So many teams fight for third place now – Aberdeen as well," he said. "Hibs are also playing very well, so it's between four teams, I think. Every game is important for us, and no game is easy.

We have a good chance to finish in third place. Why not? I believe we can win third place."

Cesnauskis's favourite time with Hearts came in 2006 when the team won the Scottish Cup and came second in the SPL. Again with the proviso that the current squad must be kept together, he sees no reason why the club cannot do something similar again. "Why not?" he asked. "Of course we can. But we must work for it."

Aberdeen's poor early-season form had some sections of the club's supporters calling for the removal of Jimmy Calderwood. But after guiding his side from the foot of the SPL into the top six, the manager is back in the good books of the Pittodrie faithful with his side seeking a fifth consecutive home win.

But, to do that, they will have to beat a team sitting in the top half of the SPL – something Aberdeen have been unable to do all season.

Calderwood is expecting to see the Red Army out in force for the crunch encounter. He said: "A win would get us back to within a point of Hearts. Their next game after us is a derby with Hibs, although we have Hamilton, which will also be a difficult one.

"I don't think we have won a game against any of the other top six teams, so it is about time that record changed.

"The atmosphere is always great when we play Hearts down at Tynecastle and I would expect something similar at Pittodrie on Saturday. I'm sure our supporters will be in festive mood. They will be very positive at kick-off, so let's hope we can send them home happy."

Taken from the Scotsman