Arkivuo to discover his fate from Hearts boss

Published on Wednesday 28 July 2010 08:41

FINNISH trialist Kari Arkivuo was today awaiting news from Hearts on whether he has secured a contract at Tynecastle, with the midfielder's agent claiming he will head to Germany if rejected by Jim Jefferies.

Hearts have agreed not to keep Arkivuo or fellow trialist Adrian Mrowiec waiting after both featured in last night's pre-season friendly against Dunfermline. The Finn, 27, left Go Ahead Eagles at the end of last season determined to secure a move to the UK or the German Bundesliga. Tynecastle is his first choice destination and he is keen to hear Jefferies' verdict following a decent performance last night.

"He was the best player in the second division in Holland and there was a lot of interest in him," said Harold Engelkamp, Arkivuo's representative. "He wants to play in Britain or in Germany. That's his next step. Some German clubs are waiting. If it's a no from Hearts then we are going to Germany but he really wants to play in Britain, either in Scotland or England."

Jefferies has promised to inform both Arkivuo and Mrowiec of their fate either today or tomorrow. "I gave Mrowiec a run to see what type of player he is," said the Hearts manager. "Arkivuo has come over for a few days and last night was the ideal chance to assess him. He drifted wide a lot so that makes me think he might be more of a wide-right player. We wanted mainly three in the middle with David Templeton wide last night.

"My decision on the trialists will be based on whether they can make us better. Are they better than what we've got? Is it something different to what we've got? I'll make that decision in the next 24 to 48 hours."

Despite the 3-1 defeat at East End Park, Jefferies pledged not to become too despondent after what was Hearts' first proper pre-season outing. "The players who were outstanding were Marius Zaliukas and David Templeton, and I thought we got decent shifts from Calum Elliot and Suso when he came on," continued the manager. "I got a lot out of the game in terms of who I can rely on and who I see as being able to set the standards. There's maybe one or two who fell short of that, but I have to be fair to them.

"I won't be too hard on the players because it's their first game. I thought we lacked a bit of a killer instinct in and around the box."