Fresh hope for Hearts fans as Rudi Skacel trains with club

RUDI Skacel, Hearts’ hero from last season’s 5-1 win in the Scottish Cup final over Hibs, has returned to Riccarton to make use of training facilities, igniting hope amongst supporters that he may re-sign for the club for a second time.

• The Czech free agent is training at Hearts’ Riccarton facility to maintain match fitness

• Skacel will also be participating in the Scottish Cup Roadshow, along with other commercial activities in Edinburgh

A spokesman from the Tynecastle club explained: “As with Craig Gordon in the summer, when we heard that Rudi was back home in Edinburgh and looking for a place to train, we were only too happy to offer the use of the academy to him. He has been keeping in shape in Prague and wanted to keep things ticking over during his time in Edinburgh.

“As a member of the victorious 2012 William Hill Scottish Cup team, Rudi has agreed to participate in the popular Scottish Cup Roadshow currently being run by Big Hearts throughout the schools in the region, and other commercial activities during his stay in the Capital.”

Skacel, 33, is currently out-of-contract, having left the Gorgie club when his contract expired at the end of last season. As such, he could sign for a club at any time outside the transfer window.