Hearts: Airdrie set to make second bid for Ridgers

Published on Wednesday 9 March 2011 07:45

AIRDRIE UNITED will approach Hearts this summer to renew Mark Ridgers' loan deal for next season, so impressed has manager Jimmy Boyle been with the young goalkeeper.

Boyle explained to the Evening News today that he is keen to lure Ridgers back to the Excelsior Stadium next year if at all possible and will contact Hearts to discuss the matter once the current campaign is over.

Ranked fourth in the goalkeeping pecking order at Tynecastle, behind Marian Kello, Jamie MacDonald and Janos Balogh, Ridgers joined Airdrie on loan last August. The agreement was initially only to last until January but was extended till the end of the season after a sequence of impressive displays from the 20-year-old.

Boyle said one of his priorities for the summer is to petition Hearts to let him have Ridgers again. "He's been a pleasure to work with. It would be great if we could get him again next year," stated Boyle.

"We haven't spoken to Hearts yet and it will depend where we end up next season. If everything goes well then, come the end of the season, I'd like to ask Hearts if it would be possible to keep him."

Meanwhile, three Hearts players have been enlisted for international duty later this month. Marius Zaliukas is in the Lithuania squad for a friendly with Poland and a World Cup qualifier against Spain, whilst Algeria have called up Ismael Bouzid for their African Nations Cup qualifier with Morocco.

Eggert Jonsson has been named in Iceland's full squad as well as the Under-21s. He could feature at both levels against Cyprus and England respectively as the matches are two days apart.