Craig Thomson sings praises of Hearts trialist Toto as team prepares for Accies

With Stephen Elliott harbouring a hamstring complaint, Kevin Kyle short on match fitness and both David Obua and Gary Glen injured, Calum Elliot could use a fit and ebullient striking partner against Hamilton.

Thomson believes it is only a matter of time before Toto is an option. He argues that Hearts cannot forego the opportunity to sign the out-of-contract Cameroonian after an impressive trial period in which he has scored eight goals in four friendly outings. Club officials will continue background checks on the player before deciding whether he merits a contract, but most who have seen him play would agree it is the proverbial no-brainer.

His goals have not come against opposition of real note. Teams such as Penicuick Athletic, Coldstream and East Fife were, after all, little more than pre-season fodder for Hearts players seeking to augment their fitness. However, an impressive substitute appearance against Blackburn Rovers two weeks ago proved his capability to cope with a step up in class, despite being only 20.

Thomson can call upon first-hand experience of Toto's strengths. He talks of how awkward the striker is to defend against in training as his physical presence and ball skill make him an unpredictable opponent. Precisely the sort who could thrive in the SPL.

"He's a big, strong boy who holds the ball up well. He looks a great player," said the teenager. "I haven't really seen him in a game yet because Tuesday night against East Fife was behind closed doors and he scored two. He does look like a player though.

"He's hard to play against. When he holds the ball in front of himself, there's no chance the defender can get to it because he's such a big guy. If he keeps doing what he's doing, scoring goals and impressing whenever he plays, I'm sure he'll be a good player.

"He can definitely add something to the league.

"He isn't the tallest of players but he'll still do the job. He has so much strength and that's what you need in the SPL. It's those sort of strikers who can score goals in this league, the guys who hold the ball up, feed it out wide and then get into the box. I think that's the kind of player Toto is."

Thomson believes Toto's unpredictability could be to his advantage. "He's like that in training, you don't know if things are going to come off for him or not. You get frustrated when he tries a trick and it doesn't come off but you've burst your a**e to get up there and support him. When he does get it right and does the simple thing, he's a good player. Off the training pitch he's the nicest guy ever. He'll do anything to help you."

Ultimately, it will be Vladimir Romanov, Jim Jefferies and sport director Alexandr Metlitski who ordain Toto's future. He holds a French passport and was reared by youth academy coaches at Metz as a teenager but returned to his native Cameroon.

He has been plucked from obscurity by Hearts, his exuberance and determination to succeed endearing him to team-mates and supporters alike.

"I haven't really spoken to him about whether he's getting a contract or not," continued Thomson. "If it was any other player I'm sure they would want to know what's happening sooner rather than later. I'm sure if he keeps doing what he's doing, he'll get one. I wouldn't compare him to anyone. He's different because he will try tricks and stuff. He's not just a big target man who will hold the ball up, he'll try things.

"He's kind of a mixed bag. He's already got a pretty good record and that's what we need, a goalscorer. In Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliott, we've signed two good goalscorers and if we create opportunities I'm sure they will deliver."

Jefferies betrayed his admiration for Toto following the aforementioned Blackburn match but has since been coy on the club's intentions as checks on the player continue.

"I've seen it before where clubs take a player on and then get hit with a 50,000 or 60,000 compensation claim," said the manager. "We need to check his background and get the relevant paperwork and until then we won't be doing anything.

"He played for Metz but went back to Cameroon for a year and played there. We need to check that he is who he says he is and then decide if we're going to offer anything. He does have something, you see that from him in training every day."

Hearts welcome Ismael Bouzid back from suspension tomorrow but must do without the influential Ryan Stevenson and Eggert Jonsson, who are banned for one more match.

Obua and Glen remain sidelined along with Andy Driver, while Stephen Elliott injured a hamstring at New Bayview on Tuesday night and is rated extremely doubtful. The Irishman did not train yesterday having made his debut against St Johnstone last weekend.

Kyle's fitness is gradually improving and he is in contention to start against a Hamilton side which began their SPL campaign with a 4-0 lashing at Pittodrie. Thomson stressed that, for all the intrigue surrounding Hearts' new signings and trialists, more established faces are just as capable of prising three points from Lanarkshire.

"There are a few other players who have come through at the club who can play up front and score goals, it's not just those coming in," he said.

"That gives you confidence because, whenever you get the ball, you know you can whip it in rather than having to hold it. You put the ball in the box and we're confident the strikers will get there now. Calum (Elliot] got there last Saturday and finished his goal really well with a good header. It shows we've worked on that in training because we weren't scoring enough goals before."