Hearts chief Vlad to jet in for United clash and Laszlo talks

HEARTS boss Csaba Laszlo is set to get the meeting he's been seeking with Vladimir Romanov when the club's owner jets into the Capital for Saturday's clash with Dundee United at Tynecastle.

The Evening News understands that Romanov is heading for Scotland this weekend and top of his agenda is likely to be crunch talks with Laszlo to discuss the club's lowly position in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League table.

Following the recent 2-1 home defeat to St Johnstone, Laszlo was straight on the phone to Romanov to demand talks with the directors over possible transfer targets in the January window. He's had to wait three weeks but now Laszlo, who has become increasingly frustrated with an apparent lack of support from Romanov, looks set to get his chance to tell the Lithuanian millionaire exactly what he thinks Hearts need to start climbing the table.

Romanov's last visit to Edinburgh, which saw him hold a meeting with the players, prompted a positive response as Hearts went to Parkhead and beat Celtic to clinch a place in the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Talk of Romanov's latest trip comes after he launched a stinging attack on Scottish football.

In the wake of Hearts having five red cards administered to them in the 2-1 defeat at Hamilton on Sunday, he said: "A couple of seasons ago in a game against Dundee United, Hearts were given three red cards, had two penalties awarded against us and a free-kick placed inside our box.

"At this point, I stopped even talking about football and the Mafia.

"It was then that I realised that there is no football in Scotland – and there cannot be any. Only degraded people could humiliate their country like this and deceive the fans just for the sake of unfair titles for the Old Firm.

"Under such circumstances the main task for Hearts now is to help our young players grow up and not pay any attention to the surrounding showbusiness."

As well as the possibility of having Michael Stewart available after it emerged his red card at Hamilton could be rescinded, Lee Wallace and Ruben Palazuelos also look set to return against Dundee United after missing the controversial defeat last weekend through injury and family commitments respectively.

Wallace was not risked as a precaution after sustaining a swollen ankle in the previous week's win at Kilmarnock, while Palazuelos was in his native Spain for the birth of his first child.

Laszlo said today: "I know Lee Wallace will be better. His injury so far is okay and I'm sure he will be fit for the Dundee United game.

"Ruben's wife gave birth but he is back in training."