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Stephen Elliott ready to stake his claim at Hearts

Stephen Elliot

Stephen Elliot

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Friday 3 February 2012 12:00

STEPHEN ELLIOTT is eager to capitalise on the fact he is now Hearts’ only fit and experienced striker, starting this weekend against St Johnstone in the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

John Sutton’s loan move to Central Coast Mariners in Australia, following Ryan Stevenson’s transfer to Ipswich Town, leaves attacking options decidedly sparse for the Hearts manager Paulo Sergio.

Elliott is determined to command the centre-forward position and make it exclusively his own in their absence.

Gordon Smith and Gary Glen, aged 20 and 21 respectively, are the Irishman’s only challengers with Kevin Kyle still on the long-term injured list. Sutton’s exit, therefore, gives Elliott the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his credentials in his favoured role.

“A lot of players haven’t played as much as they wanted this season,” he explained to the Evening News.

“With John looking like he’s going to Australia, it might give me an opportunity to play up front again. I don’t know what the manager is thinking.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve played a lot on the right wing of the forward line. In the last couple of games I’ve played on the left side and, while I don’t mind playing in a wider role, I’d much prefer to play up front if possible. If I don’t play as a striker then as long I’m in the starting line-up I can’t really complain.

“With John going, there’s me, Gary and Gordon left for the striker position. Whoever plays in the team, we know how the manager wants us to play so we need to work hard for each other. John’s move has popped up out of nowhere; it’s a strange one. He came into the team for the last couple of games and did quite well. We wish him well over there.”

Elliott has found himself restricted to a peripheral role at times this season and is keen to cement himself as a first choice. He has started 12 matches and appeared eight times as a substitute, scoring three goals in total to date. He admits he isn’t comfortable with the role of substitute. After overcoming the tweaked hamstring that forced him off against Inverness two weeks ago, he is hankering after an extended run in the Hearts team.

“You’re always frustrated when you aren’t playing,” he continued. “When I got into the team against Dunfermline, it started a run for me and we got some good results. I enjoyed that period so I was really disappointed having to come off early up in Inverness.

“You’re obviously frustrated not playing – you just need to keep working hard and show the manager that you’re good enough to stay in the team.

“The manager hasn’t said much to me. If you’re in the team he talks to you about what he wants from you. I don’t try to look at anything off the pitch.

“I had a slight hamstring strain, but it was a precaution me coming off against Inverness. I’d felt it in the previous few weeks and I felt it again early in the Inverness game. It just wasn’t getting any easier so I decided to come off to make sure it didn’t get any worse. I’ve trained this week and it’s feeling OK. Touch wood, I’m ready to go this weekend.”

Hearts’ Scottish Cup adventure last season was cut down in its infancy by this Sunday’s visitors. Peter MacDonald’s 86th-minute winner at Tynecastle on January 11 last year propelled a St Johnstone team containing Danny Grainger into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

Elliott played that night in a Hearts side which was, at the time, mounting a genuine title challenge in the league, sitting three points behind SPL leaders Celtic. Thirteen months later, third place is the realistic target with the Scottish Cup representing a chance of silverware.

“The Scottish Cup is probably our only chance of winning something this year,” said Elliott. “We know St Johnstone have beaten us twice this season and, even though we have a home tie, it’s not going to be easy. We’re very confident going into the game, though.

“We feel we proved people wrong a bit over the Christmas period. Results hadn’t been great before the Dunfermline game, but we were working extremely hard during that time.

“Once we started that little run we began to get a bit of confidence together.

“Losing two weeks ago maybe stunted that run a bit, but we’re hoping to get back on track with a big cup game this weekend. We want to get back to the results we were getting before we lost at Inverness.

“Up until the Inverness game we were playing probably the best football we’d played all season. The result we got up there was disappointing for everybody, so we’ve got to bounce back. It would be great for Hearts to go on a good cup run and it’s something all the boys want.”

Elliott is one of many Hearts players out of contract at the end of the season, but said he hasn’t given much thought to his future.

“I just have to wait and see. I’m just concentrating on playing at the moment until the end of the season. Then whatever happens after that happens.

“You have your ups and downs as a footballer, but I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I’ve been happy at Hearts, although I’m happier when I’m playing as opposed to not playing.”

Fitness permitting, he is certain to be playing on Sunday. It could be a priceless opportunity for the Irishman to establish himself as Hearts’ first-choice centre-forward.


Comments

There are 14 comments to this article

Page 1 of 1


14

Tightfisted

Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 09:32 AM

"Elliot Ready To Stake His Claim"?????? Can we take it that this means that he's got his name down for a new flat on Tynecastle Gardens when it gets finished??......which is just what this down-and-out club are. What an ignominious fall from whatever slight standing they ever had in the Scots game, with a record of "achievement" that is even at it's very best glossing, pretty mediocre. Please write back if you need me to spell that out Jambozos................or would you prefer to stick to the usual tactic of perpetuating lies of the level that Josef Goebells would've been proud of ??? TEE HEE HEE !!



13

Baldrick

Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 05:53 AM

12* Sorry. Wrong again. The cull was nowhere near as sharp as I thought it would be but with the exception of Lee Wallace, we won't miss any of them. Fail to see your point re Gary Glen. Does the fact that he has limited opposition to his position in the team suddenly make him a better player? Hardly. Our ace striker has been injury prone for 12 months and we don't have the money to buy a replacement. Simple really.



12

First Green

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:09 PM

Fact that young players like Glen haven`t made their mark yet despite limited competition (Sutton who is ordinary at best and Elliot who has had injury problems and others) suggests thety`ll never be good enough. Same will happen in other positions in next 2 or 3 years as you start to live within your means. Back to reality.



11

Baldrick

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:07 PM

The Hibees may indeed live forever Zenman but what on earth would be the point. If their future is anything like their dismal past it will be purgatory. If they start by changing their name to the Pilrig Pirates and follow it up by using their training facilities to build the players' stamina, they might see a light at the end of the tunnel.



10

Hen Broon

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:38 PM

Nothing sadder than your ultimate hero being a player that stopped your tormentors winning the league whilst playing for another club! Duncan D.....saw the interview (part of) of TV........SERGIO was fairly upbeat & certainly up for the challenge but his message was clear....IE ...what ever the template is to buy into it he needs to know what it is as working in isolation from the owner is not feasible for any manager.......SERGIO has handled things exceptionally well & deserves to know NOW if he is part of the plan & what the plan is...........VLAD ........reward the man for getting on with things & producing results under dificult circumstances or if he is destined to depart(I would imagine the 3 man team expensive) then o the honourable thing & let him know to allow him to loook to secure his future elsewhere.



9

zemmam

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 06:10 PM

Smiling Elliot,when is your next pay due? R.I.P HMFC Mad Vlad will soon be found out- Good source Swinecastle,Rusty old bus shelter.Traces off asbestos Training Academy,University playing pitches. Financial status,40 million and rising. Prize asset.Old Rudi Skackel. Mad Vlad,you have done well in your 8 year reign. Champions league,splitting the old firm.Ha Ha You are a legend Vlad,we must erect a statue off you outside the Pink rusty bus shelter on your achievements. IN VLAD WE TRUST - QUALITY. PS - 1902,dismal Derby record,bla bla bla.It's in the past. GORGIE BOYS The Hibees will live forever,we have a future.Will the Mighty world beaten Jambos.I think not.THANKS VLAD FOR THE COMEDY.A LEGEND LIKE ALBERT KIDD.



8

Duncan D' Orderly

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:55 PM

And the icing on the cake, don't shoot the messengerSergio fears for Hearts future Paulo Sergio has admitted he is concerned for Hearts after the anticipated exodus failed to materialise during the winter transfer window. Last Updated: 030212 at 15:44 Post Comment Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet. Hearts RSS Feed Bookmark with del.icio.us Save to iGoogle Save to My Yahoo Submit to reddit Share on StumbleUpon Sergio: Expected more departures 1 of 1 While uncertain about his own future, with his contract running out at the end of the season, Sergio's greater worry is how Hearts can continue to function after the departures of just a handful of players, with Eggert Jonsson, Ryan Stevenson and John Sutton joining Wolves, Ipswich and Central Coast Mariners respectively. Sergio had expected a difficult month in January, but is aware more may follow. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Scottish Cup fifth-round clash with St Johnstone, Sergio said: "I'm worried, because I know the reality. "The club needs to make some money so it's always a difficult situation. "Everybody knows we needed to make some money and we didn't. Our board has to work harder to find the money elsewhere." Hearts avoided unlimited sanctions from the Scottish Premier League by paying their players' salaries on schedule for the first time since September last month after three successive delays. Sergio did not wish to go over old ground, but believes players could yet depart despite the closure of transfer windows in western Europe, with Russian clubs, for example, still permitted to buy. Sergio added: "What I believe is we need money, if it's selling players, equipment, whatever, I don't know. It's possible something happens. "The European market is closed, but other markets are open. We will see what happens." Hearts were able to retain Rudi Skacel, who signed a new deal until the end of the season, while other players also remained at Tynecastle despite interest from elsewhere. He believes his squad will seek to perform well in the final few months of the season in order to win a favourable move, with many out of contract at the end of the campaign. Sergio said: "I'm sure some of them will be more focused now, with the summer, because those kind of markets (the ones which remain open) have no interest for them. "They have to wait until the summer to make the next step. I believe they're going to be committed, just thinking about football until the end of the season." Sergio succeeded Jim Jefferies as boss in August with a remit to help Hearts challenge the Old Firm, an aim which was shelved when owner Vladimir Romanov became disillusioned with football and announced his intention to listen to offers for the club. Sergio will seek imminent talks over his own future and is keen to stay on, whether the challenge is rebuilding the squad with young talent or another project. He said: "I think I can stay next season, but that depends. We're going to talk with our board and everyone. I don't know what the project is at this moment. I need to feel I'm part of a big thing. "We need to sit down on the table and make everything clear. I don't want to wait until the end of the season, we should start thinking about the future just now. "We're living all this season with lots of problems, but I have a strong feeling I'm working at a very good club. I'm proud to be and to work at Hearts." St Johnstone knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup in January 2011 and have beaten Sergio's side twice this term in the SPL. Sergio said: "They are having a very good season and we respect them a lot. We know we have to work a lot to win the game and go through." .



7

Duncan D' Orderly

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:32 PM

This will be all over this paper like a rash tomorrow so read it first from a Hearts Fan. And on the bright side, he's aving more money for his true love . Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov told RIA Novosti on Friday that his club in Belarus have been excluded from the Top League because the oligarch refused to keep bankrolling the team. Romanov put Hearts up for sale in November along with Belarus' Partizan Minsk and Lithuanian side FK Kaunas, saying he wanted to leave the football business and buy a theater. “They threw [Partizan] out, of course, because of the lack of money," Romanov told RIA Novosti. "I don’t intend to keep financing the club. I put 20 million litas ($7.6 million) into it. That’s enough." Formerly known as MTZ-Ripo, Partizan won two Belarusian Cup titles, in 2005 and 2008, and was sometimes used by Romanov as a feeder club for Hearts. Romanov said Minsk Mayor Nikolai Ladutenko, whose City Hall has 25 percent stake in the club after investing $5.3 million, could step in to save the side. "There’s a government, let them try without me,” he said. The federation excluded Partizan on Friday, reducing the Top League to 11 teams, after the club failed to make the licensing deadline Tuesday. Partizan chief executive Lyudas Rumbutis told Belarusian website Pressbol earlier this week that their efforts to sell the club had been in vain. “There was hope for the Russian company Gazprom, but that collapsed. The Minsk city council tried to help us, but that didn’t work out either.” Rumbutis said that Partizan could only continue as an amateur side.



6

pepperz

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:43 PM

#2 No! Gary Glen has had ample opportunities to prove himself and has failed on every occasion, so I hope he is one to also be shown the door. We can't afford any passengers now and in the future.



5

View From The Shed

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:44 PM

A hard game ahead on Sunday but a good cup run will help the club finances and it,s a quick route to Europe and a failsafe in the event we don,t clinch third place in the League.Elliott knows what he,s got to do so it,s up to him now to stake his claim for the permanent striker spot.Good Luck to Hearts and Hibs and another possible derby!!!



4

De Vries Scores Four

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:17 PM

I think it was a mistake to lend Sutton out as we have few striking options (no real change there). IMO Sutton was just beginning to perform for us so it is not really an ideal time to let him go out on loan. I understand that this is for financial reasons and if Stevenson and him are part of the mass 'fire sale' that our neighbours were predicting then so be it. I think we will have to continue to rely on goals from midfield for the remainder of the season but when you have Rudi Rudi Rudi in the side, anything is possible! Goal Machine! Watched the 2005 2006 season highlights last night which just reminded me of the massive talent Mr Skacel has in his arsenal! Come on the JT's! Lets get to hampden again for the Scottish Cup! We can tell our closest neighbours all about it again as I know they like to hear about what a proper cup final feels like ;-)



3

Hen Broon

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:14 PM

Sorry meant to add....talk of KELLO injured.......mmmmmmm.....still think him and zali could head out to some Russian or other non window restricted side. However unlike striker we are well covered in all other positions .



2

Hen Broon

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:12 PM

Has been in fine form but there is no denying that we are very thin on the ground up front.My younger colleague tells me Gary Glen TWITTERing about hoping there will be talks on a new contract but he has to start doing it on the park.....still feel there is a player in there.........young Gordon as well....opportunities will be there to prove U R good enough.....if we played a 4-4-2 ......rudi becomes an option as well (could not do the lone striker but could play off Gordon.



1

pepperz

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:41 PM

Stephen Elliott, fast and can stick the ball in the net, the kind of player we need right now, good luck Stephen.



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