SPL: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Hearts 3

Sep 20 2010 Anthony Haggerty

RYAN Stevenson tipped Hearts team-mate Kevin Kyle for a Scotland recall after watching him go on as a substitute and rip Inverness apart.

Kyle replaced Ian Black in 36 minutes to devastating effect after the striker had been surprisingly left out of Jim Jefferies' starting side at the Caldeonian Stadium.

Caley Thistle managed to take the lead through Eric Odhiambo just after Kyle went on but the Jambos' replacement turned the match and left the home side stunned.

He helped set up two goals as the visitors came storming back to win 3-1 and post their sixth win on the spin against the Highlanders.

Stevenson reckons Scotland boss Craig Levein could do worse than bring back Kyle, who won the last of his 10 caps in November 2009.

And the Jambos midfielder reckons our national team manager might also want to check out a few others in the Hearts team. Stevenson said: "I'm sure Kevin was disappointed not to be playing from the start but when he came on he was absolutely outstanding.

"He and Calum Elliot up front were dynamite.

"I don't see any reason why Kevin can't earn a Scotland recall and I don't see why some of the other Hearts boys can't push their way into the international set-up too.

"When Kevin is not scoring, he is assisting and managed to set up two goals against Caley Thistle. And I think he would have tapped in the first one had it not been an own goal.

"He is always in there causing defenders problems.

"Among the others who could be pushing for Scotland honours is Calum who has started the season pretty well.

"Craig Levein has drafted in a few Dundee United lads to the Scotland squad and it gives players a huge boost to see he is not just looking at Old Firm players and those based in England.

"Craig has shown he is willing to look at guys who are playing well in the SPL and Kevin's got every chance of earning a recall."

However, former Ayr United star Stevenson insists 6ft 3in Kyle is more than just a battering ram or target man.

And he praised him for being a team player and not going into a sulk when he learned Jefferies had dropped him from Saturday's starting line-up.

Stevenson said: "Kevin was the first one to say to the boys all the best when we were going out even though he wasn't starting.

"He was getting all the boys up for the game and is not the kind of person to sit in a corner and get down about things.

"He's great to have in the dressing room. Even though he's not the brightest, you can have a good bit of banter with him.

"Kevin did the job against Inverness by coming on and proving to the manager he should be playing.

"Many people think Kev is just a big boy and it's all about his headers but on the ground he is a very good player.

"He has played at the highest level in the English Premiership and at international level and is great for us.

"If you are ever struggling you know Kevin will hold the ball up for the team."

Kyle's introduction turned the game Hearts' way just when it appeared to be slipping from their grasp.

In the 37th minute, Stuart Duff had threaded a beauty of a pass through to Odhiambo and he rounded Marian Kello to drive home from 15 yards and put Terry Butcher's side ahead.

Caley Thistle were good value for their lead but didn't reckon on the impact Kyle would make on the game.

The Jambos' substitute had been on the park a mere nine minutes when his side pulled level.

The impressive David Templeton fired in a wicked free-kick that Kyle was about to volley home only for the luckless Chris Innes to divert the ball into his own net.

Within 10 minutes of the restart Stevenson grabbed his first competitive goal for the Tynecastle club when he directed home a downward volley following Kyle's headed knockdown from Suso Santana's corner. The game was done and dusted after 69 minutes when Santana skinned Ross Tokely on the right and squared for Elliot who tapped home from inside the six-yard box.

Hearts should have had the chance of a fourth goal but referee Iain Brines somehow missed a wresting half-nelson stranglehold by Innes on Elliot in the box and denied Hearts a stonewall penalty.

The victory moved Jefferies' side up to third in the SPL and Stevenson reckons there are plenty more goals to come from his team-mates as they bid to make their mark in this campaign.

However, he refused to set himself an individual target now he is off and running.

Stevenson said: "My target before the Inverness game was to try to score and now I've done that.

"When I was playing in the lower leagues I targeted between 12 and 15 goals a season and managed to achieve that. I know it's going to be much more difficult to score with any regularity in the SPL but if I can play central midfield that's where I feel I can make the best runs and get on to the ball.

"In my first season I won't set a target but I will take it game by game and try to take my chances when they come along.

"We have goals all over the park. Kevin, Calum, David Templeton, Suso and David Obua are all well capable of scoring.

"I feel as if I can add to that now that I'm off the mark.

"Going forward, Hearts are looking pretty strong as a team but we know we have to defend properly at all times."

If Hearts can do both in equal measure, their potent goal threat may yet see them re-establish themselves as the third force in Scotland - and possibly earn Kyle a return to the international fold in the process.

Taken from the Daily Record