Andy Webster's goal ties in perfectly with Hearts

THOSE who have played alongside Andy Webster eulogise his qualities. A talented defender with an unrelenting single-minded outlook, he is also driven by a desire to make up for lost time and eventually add to his 23 Scotland caps. Returning to Hearts may be the perfect platform to do both.

Webster, 28, completed a remarkable move back to Tynecastle this week after being released by Rangers, where he made only three competitive appearances in four years. Walter Smith's lack of faith in the centre-back proved damaging but Webster can surely only benefit from feeling wanted again in Edinburgh.

Provided he can persuade some sceptical supporters still angered by the manner of his walkout on Hearts five years ago, he has a chance to revitalise a badly stagnating career. Webster decided to invoke FIFA's Article 17 rule and opt out of his Hearts contract in 2006, 12 months before it was due to expire. Ever since he has been publicly berated by the club's supporters who were unwilling to forgive such treachery and suspected he was simply determined to engineer a move to Rangers. Winning them over will be critical.

On the field, if he can maintain fitness and recapture the consistency shown whilst captaining Dundee United to Scottish Cup success last season, the stage is his.

Craig Levein will be monitoring developments closely. The Scotland coach signed Webster from Arbroath for 70,000 whilst manager of Hearts in March 2001. The player was 18 at the time and represented raw talent, which Levein nurtured to produce defensive mainstay and a future club captain. Jim Jefferies, the current Hearts manager, received glowing praise from Levein when he consulted him over the prospect of luring Webster back to Tynecastle, so it is fair to say the national coach remains a fan. Those who watched the pair's relationship at close quarters know Webster will get every opportunity to re-establish himself with Scotland if playing regularly.

"I don't see why not. He's done it before," said Stephen Simmons, who played alongside Webster in Levein's Hearts team. "Consistency is the key and he'll need to get into the Hearts team first and cement a regular place. After that I'm sure it won't be long till he's back in the Scotland squad.

"Craig Levein brought him in from Arbroath and I think Andy must have said to himself, 'this is my chance. It's either here or back down the divisions.' I was only a young boy like him at the time. He got himself stronger and fitter and was single-minded, which made him into the player he is.

"He took some time to get used to playing at a higher level but once he got settled in and became fitter he was fine. Him and Elvis (Steven Pressley) were fantastic at the back together. Andy just progressed into a really good defender."It's a great signing for Hearts to get him back. They are going well just now and I think Andy will make them even stronger because he's a leader. When he went to United Housty (Peter Houston) realised that quality right away and made him captain. He wins balls, he's quick, he's good in the tackle and he scores the odd goal. He's just a good all-round centre-back and I think he learned a lot of it from Elvis at Hearts. You can see he's picked up a couple of tricks from the big man."

With some Hearts supporters finding his return difficult to digest, perhaps the most useful attribute Webster gleaned from Pressley was that staunch resolve. "I think he's learned that from Elvis, taken a page out of Elvis' book. He's focused on the game and doesn't let anything else bother him," said Simmons, now with John McGlynn's Raith Rovers.

"He was a fans' favourite at Hearts before so I don't think it will take him too long to turn them round once he's performing. I can't see it being hard for him. Once he gets on the park and gets himself fit, like he was when he was a Scotland regular, I'm sure the Hearts fans will forget everything that has happened before. When he's playing well on the park they won't be worried about it.

"I think he'll be fine. He's big enough and old enough to take it. He's been captain of Dundee United, he's played in big games and been a Scotland regular at one stage. Criticism won't faze him one bit. Andy is quite loud in the dressing room but calm on the park. He knows how to get stuck in and he knows how to win."

If Webster picks up where he left off at Hearts and imposes himself at international level once again, his return will be considered an outright victory for a player whose strong will once looked like being his downfall.