Hearts: Anxious Stevenson admits he's playing for his Hearts future

RYAN STEVENSON admits he needs to secure a starting role in the Hearts side if he wants to earn a new deal with the Tynecastle club.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who was Jim Jefferies' first signing after he made his return to the club in the middle of last season, is out of contract next summer.

After sitting out the opening two games of the current campaign through suspension, Stevenson enjoyed a prolonged run in the side until he was dropped to the bench against Hibs earlier this month.

Having seen the team that won at Easter Road follow it up with three more victories - against Celtic, St Johnstone and Hamilton - the former Ayr and St Johnstone player knows he can have no arguments about being among the substitutes at the moment.

But he's aiming to make the most of any opportunity that comes his way to try and persuade Jefferies and owner Vladimir Romanov that he's worth a new contract.

"Rudi (Skacel] is banging in hat-tricks and Temps (David Templeton, pictured right) is also doing really well - in fact, the whole team is doing well, so there's no way I can go and chap on the manager's door just now," said Stevenson.

"I probably wouldn't do that anyway as I knew it was going to be hard for me to get in the team when I signed.

"I was sort of flung in at the deep end last season because no other new players came in (during the January transfer window).

"However, I said I would do everything I could to try and get in the team and went away and worked hard in pre-season.

"Unfortunately, I was suspended for the first two games, then got in the team but the manager changed it again and now the boys are on a great run.

"I'm biding my time on the bench. I'll keep working hard in training and, if the manager needs to make any to changes due to injuries or suspension, he knows I'm going to do my job.

"My contract is up at the end of the season and that is in the back of my mind.

"Obviously when you are on the bench there's not much you can do to win a new contract. I just have to do well when I come on. It is a worrying time because Hearts are a massive club and I want to stay here.

"The club is also going in a positive direction and I want to be part of that.

"So I hope the manager takes notice (of anything I do] and we can speak about a new deal."

Stevenson, who scored as a substitute in the recent win at St Johnstone, says tomorrow's live Sky TV clash with Motherwell is the sort of game Hearts need to win if they want to remain in third spot for the rest of the season.

"Motherwell are a good team - you always have hard games against them," added the former Chelsea starlet.

"Craig Brown and Archie Knox have done a great job there. They've got some very good players and they make it very difficult for teams to play against them, They can punish you if they get a chance. We know it is going to be a hard game and Motherwell are the sort of team who can hurt you if you allow them to. But these are the ones we are going to have to win if we want to finish third at the end of the season."