John McGlynn admits Rudi Skacel Hearts return can’t be ruled out

Rudi Skacel could yet return to Hearts for what would be his third spell at Tynecastle, manager John McGlynn has accepted – but he said he might not know anything about the signing until it had taken place.

Skacel’s second stint as a Hearts player ended in May, with his last game being the 5-1 Scottish Cup final victory over Hibernian, in which he scored two goals. Since then he has been a free agent, and McGlynn said that, as long as he remains like that, a return could not be ruled out.

But, while he would like to add another striker to his squad, McGlynn has accepted that he might have to carry on with his existing resources.

“There’s a possibility of Rudi Skacel coming back,” McGlynn said yesterday when asked about the Czech player, whose possible return has been the subject of speculation by Hearts supporters over the past four months. “I wouldn’t want to fool anybody.

“Jim Jefferies was sitting here and in walked Rudi. John McGlynn will make no difference.”

The current manager was referring to Skacel’s return in 2010 when he agreed a deal directly with Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov rather than with then manager Jim Jefferies.

However, McGlynn added that, to the best of his knowledge, no-one at the club had been in talks with Skacel.

“Until he signs for someone else there is always the possibility he will walk back through the door.

“I haven’t spoken to him. I would welcome back into the squad anybody who scores his amount of goals because we need somebody who will put the ball in the back of the net from midfield.”

Barring a return by Skacel, the burden of scoring goals from midfield will fall on Ryan 
Stevenson, who made his own second debut for Hearts in the 1-0 home defeat by Dundee 12 days ago.