Hibs striker Trakys stunned that Levein has overlooked Riordan

Although without Kris Boyd and James McFadden for the Euro qualifying double-header against Czech Republic and World Cup winners Spain, Levein has opted to leave Riordan out in the cold, preferring to draft Queens Park Rangers' eight-goal hitman Jamie Mackie into his squad for the first time.

Levein has ignored the Easter Road star's claims since taking over from George Burley, the last of Riordan's three caps coming as a substitute in the friendly against Wales last November, the match in Cardiff proving to be the former Hearts boss' last in charge of the national side.

It's a decision which has left Trakys baffled, particularly following Riordan's astonishing strike against Celtic, his third goal in as many SPL matches. Today the 31-year-old admitted: "If he had a Lithuanian passport, we'd have him in a minute."

And, with Lithuania bidding, along with Scotland and the Czechs to finish second behind European champions Spain in qualifying Group I, Trakys claimed Riordan's absence from the international scene will only be welcomed by his country.

Capped 11 times by Lithuania and hoping his move to Scotland will help earn him a place back in the international reckoning, Trakys said: "With a player like Derek you never know what will happen next, he can make magic like he did against Celtic," a reference to Riordan audaciously chipping 6ft 7in Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

"When Derek has the ball anything is possible," continued Trakys, "The goal he scored against Celtic was amazing, world-class.

"I think he is in top form and, while it is not my decision, I believe he can play for the national team and it surprises me that he isn't."

Trakys conceded Riordan's slight form may count against him in the eyes of some but he insisted his team-mate's quick-thinking more than compensated for a lack of inches or pounds.

He said: "You look at last week, Derek was up against big, big defenders in Glenn Loovens and Daniel Majstorovic but he uses his brain, he's very intelligent, very technical and scores wonderful goals.

"I do not know why he is not in the national team but if he had a passport to play for Lithuania we would have him."Hibs boss John Hughes agrees with Trakys that Riordan is "possibly technically the best finisher in Scotland," capable of scoring all sorts of goals, but while insisting it's Levein's decision who to pick, he believes the Easter Road club's star player cannot continue to be overlooked if he continues to shine at club level, He said: "I can say that from day one it's been a pleasure and a joy to work with Derek, he can frustrate you at times and he knows he can work a bit harder at times. But it's finding a balance, you want him in that last quarter and scoring goals. If everyone else has to do the shift then so be it."

While others appear to be ahead of Riordan at present, Hughes insisted his striker can push himself to the head of the queue, saying: "To do that he has to do his best for Hibs, do that and I don't think he will be ignored. Derek wants to score goals, he wants to be top goalscorer and you can see the enjoyment on his face even when he is scoring goals on the training ground.

"If he keeps doing the business for Hibs then I am sure that door will open up again."

In the wake of his latest rejection, Riordan will get the chance to begin swaying Levein's mind as Hibs look to kick-start their season against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, scene of a 5-1 humbling on their last visit to Perth in February but, Trakys insisted, it won't be a case of a one-man show.

Trakys himself has been limited to a mere 19 minutes of first-team action since making Hibs his 15th club in a career which has taken him from his homeland to Russia, Belgium, Iceland, Germany, Azerbaijan and Greece before pitching up in Scotland as he works on his fitness. But, while insisting he is almost there, Trakys believes he can play a part if Hughes should call upon his services, adamant he and his new team-mates aren't far away from turning their fortunes around.

He did admit, though, he finds himself in a far different situation than in the past couple of seasons when, as Lithuania's player of the year, he helped Ekranas lift the A Lyga before switching to Greece where he was part of the Panserraikos side which won promotion to the Super League.

He said: "We have a good team, quality players, not just Derek. I think we have been a bit unlucky recently but the one thing is that every player has given his all.

"I don't think we are too far from getting the three points we need, I believe we have a good future. This team has quality, very good players, a good manager, we train hard. I've been here three weeks, my fitness is much better but sometimes you can play without being the fittest and score, you also need a bit of luck."

Nevertheless, Trakys believes he isn't far away from peak fitness, a bounce match against Hamilton in midweek helping him along while Hughes has also promised he'll be using the international break to fine-tune the striker. If that means reporting for duty while his team-mates enjoy a few days rest, Trakys has no complaints. He said: "I don't know if I will get time off or time to go home but that is not too important, my job is to play football. I've been here three weeks and given another two I think I will be ready."

Even then Trakys admits he faces a fight for the jersey with Hughes having made it clear he sees his latest signing battling it out with Colin Nish to partner Riordan, at least until Darryl Duffy overcomes his broken foot.

Again, Trakys has no difficulty in accepting that prospect. He said: "I must show something in each training session to the manager, the coaching staff. When I am ready I am sure he will play me more."

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