Hearts aim to sort out keeper 'issues'

HEARTS are working to resolve personal issues between Marian Kello and Vladimir Romanov which have resulted in the Slovakian goalkeeper being frozen out of the Tynecastle first team.

The club's majority share-holder is understood to be unhappy with Kello's professionalism. He initially dropped out of the side due to a back complaint following the 3-2 victory over St Mirren on March 19 but has not played since despite being fit for the last three weeks.

Unless he can resolve his problems with Romanov amicably, Kello may be forced into leaving Hearts this summer. Club officials are working diligently to sort out the differences between both parties, a situation which mirrors Marius Zaliukas' exclusion from the team earlier this season due to exorbitant wage demands. In that instance, Zaliukas backed down and was reinstated to the first team after several weeks.

Hearts director, Sergejus Fedotovas, today insisted that Kello's long-term future still lies in Edinburgh. "I need to see what this issue is," said Fedotovas. "I cannot comment at this time. Kello is a player who has a contract with the club. I believe that as long as he has a contract with the club, he has a future with the club."

On a brighter note, Hearts winger Andy Driver has been promised a Scotland call-up by national coach Craig Levein once he attains full match sharpness. "Andrew will be involved for Scotland, he just needs to get some games under his belt," said Levein.

"When Andrew, and I have no doubt he will, gets back to the level he was performing at before this injury happened then he'll be a regular member of the Scotland squad, that's for sure."