Hearts boss keen to finalise plans for squad

DISCUSSIONS on any potential signings for Hearts during the January transfer window were placed on hold until manager Jim Jefferies could meet with Vladimir Romanov, the club's majority shareholder.

The pair had planned to convene three times but had to postpone their arrangements before finally getting together in Lithuania on Thursday. Jefferies will now be clearer on whether there is any scope to supplement his squad for the second half of what is evolving into an enthralling SPL campaign.

Any ratification from Romanov would not necessarily mean an influx of talent at Riccarton, however. As Billy Brown, Jefferies' assistant, acknowledged, quality footballers who are available mid-season are something of a rarity in Scotland.

"We haven't discussed players coming in. We felt we have enough, but you never know," he said. "There's not a lot of players come up at this time of season. The players coming in would have to be better than what we have got and there's not a lot of them going about in Scotland.

"Jim was in Lithuania for a pre-planned meeting that has been cancelled three times. There's a lot to discuss with players coming out of contract, what young boys do we keep, plans for next season and what we do pre-season if we get into Europe. There's a lot on the agenda."

In praising the calibre of player in the Hearts squad, Brown alluded to the work done to install Hearts as title contenders. That status will be severely tested throughout the rest of this month and into early February as a programme of six demanding league games in two-and-a-half weeks begins with today's assignment against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Brown and Jefferies must attempt to guide their charges back to winning form after Tuesday night's unexpected Scottish Cup exit to St Johnstone.

"It wasn't just that one or two players were missing. Anyone who was there will tell you that the whole team had a bad night," said Brown. "It was our first defeat in ten games and if we can come through the next ten with just one defeat and one bad performance we'll take it.

"If you lose in the league you can get back quickly. You don't have the option of that in the Cup and losing was a big blow for us.

"Looking at the list of games we are away to Dundee United and Kilmarnock, home to Rangers, away to Celtic, home to St Johnstone and away to Rangers. It's a fair run of games. What you will find out at the end of that run is if we're genuine contenders for the top three."

Kevin Kyle and Rudi Skacel remain Hearts' biggest injury concerns ahead of the tough sequence.

"It's great to have everyone fit, but most clubs don't have that and we're no different. We just get on with it," continued Brown. "When you have a run of wins players on the fringes can't ask the boss why they are not playing. Now players can come in because of Tuesday and a few injuries and they have to rise to that challenge.

"David Templeton didn't play on Tuesday because he has tapered off a bit and we gave him a rest. Novikovas' form in the derby allowed us to do that. The opposition's key issue is mainly how to stop Kyle. But we do have other players who can come in and make up for that. Obua came on last season and did well for us front, but we'll have to think about that one."

One man Hearts are keen to welcome back is winger Andy Driver. His recovery from knee and thigh injuries has been hindered by the recent weather which has prevented him training on grass. Brown, though, believes that could become a blessing in disguise.

"The weather has inhibited Andy's comeback because getting out on grass has been very difficult. I think we've trained on grass three days in the last six weeks and training indoors is not what he needs.

"That's held him up, but maybe in the long run it will help him. He's been out a while and we don't want to rush him.

"Softly, softly might be the answer. If we were on grass training he'd be back with the first team."