Elliott ready to make his mark at Hearts

With a bit more sharpness, the former Preston striker admits he might have tucked away a chance to put Hearts back on level terms before Motherwell, who had taken the lead through Nick Blackman before either him or Skacel had touched the ball, sealed the points through a second goal from John Sutton.

But, after suffering a frustrating start to his spell with the Capital club due to a hamstring injury, Elliott is delighted to be playing again and is hoping he can stay in the firing line for the visit of champions Rangers to Tynecastle for a lunchtime clash on Saturday.

"After Rudi (pictured] and I came on the atmopshere was great but then we were behind after 15 seconds," said Elliott. "But that's what can happen in football sometimes. For me, it was good to get on the pitch, though I would obviously have preferred that we hadn't suffered such a disapppointing result.

"Picking up the injury wasn't ideal, particularly when you've just come to a new club. But you just have to be as professional as you can in a situation like that.

"I've worked hard over the last week or two to try and get myself fit and get involved in games. Now the more football I get I will feel the benefit of that."

Elliott, whose only other top-team appearance so far this season was also as a substitute, against St Johnstone on the opening day of the SPL campaign, reckoned Hearts could have no complaints about losing to Motherwell.

The result capped a dismal week for Jim Jefferies' side after their exit from the Co-operative Insurance Cup at Falkirk a few days earlier but Elliott is hoping heads won't stay dropped for too long, especially with such a big game on the horizon this weekend.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game against Motherwell but, as the home side, we were looking to get a positive result. However, after they scored the first goal I think they maybe showed a little more hunger than us - and that's something we've got to address," said Elliott.

"I thought we started the first half okay but, in the second half, they came out looking a bit more up for it. Once they scored that gave them something to sit on but we certainly need to work on trying to show a bit more hunger than we did on Saturday.

"I don't think the manager even needed to hammer that point home - it was there for everyone to see. We need to pick ourselves up. There is nowhere to hide now and we need to go out in the next game and put in a performance.

"We are all disappointed but we need to lift ourselves for this Saturday. This week hasn't been great but we've got to be big enough and brave enough to stand up and come out with the confidence that we can do well against Rangers. I think Motherwell probably deserved to win on Saturday but we can't have teams like them coming here and putting one over on us - we have to win these sort of games. Obviously this week is a massive game for us, and even bigger after this result. We have to get our heads up, train well and get our minds right for Saturday."

While Hearts have won at both Hamilton and Inverness already this season, the defeat on Saturday followed draws in the Capital with both St Johnstone and Dundee United.

"I can't say why we've not won at Tynecastle in the SPL so far this season but, at times, we are maybe just not doing enough to deserve to win home games," he suggested.

"There was still enough time to get into the game after they went in front but, for some reason, we seemed to stop playing. But we shouldn't drop our heads too much because there are still a lot more games to go."

Elliott's chance against Motherwell came from a Kevin Kyle knockdown, the pair having developed a good understanding when they had a previous spell as striking partners at Sunderland.

"I know how to react to things (when Kyle is making challenges] and the more I play those type of chances won't get away from me," he declared. "On this occasion, the keeper came out and the ball ran away a little bit. I just couldn't get my shot away early enough but I'm just happy to be playing again.

"It's not been an ideal start for me, missing the majority of the games since I've come here. It is up to manager if I will be involved against Rangers - I will train hard and just hope I get time on the pitch to get my sharpness.

"Touch wood, I felt alright against Motherwell and if I build up fitness and strength I should be okay."