Hearts defender Bouzid in talks over Tynecastle future

ISMAEL BOUZID'S future will become top of Hearts' priority list next week when his agent jets in from Austria to clarify whether the Algerian internationalist has a future at Tynecastle.

Thomas Boehm stressed today it is not a foregone conclusion that Bouzid will leave Hearts on freedom of contract at the end of the season. In fact, he maintained that his client is keen to remain in Edinburgh if a new deal can be agreed.

Boehm is due to arrive in the Capital next week to meet Hearts officials and ascertain whether they are willing to offer Bouzid a new contract. Much will depend on the financial terms proposed to the player but Boehm believes chances of him staying are realistic. "I've spoken to Hearts and next week I will be in Scotland," he said. "For sure, Ismael would like to stay there. I can't say anything more at the moment because I must talk to Sergey (Fedotovas) first and then come to Edinburgh next week."

Bouzid joined Hearts in summer 2009 from the Turkish club Ankaragucu.

He was signed by former manager Csaba Laszlo and also played regularly under his successor, Jim Jefferies, prior to Andy Webster's arrival from Rangers in January.

Meanwhile, following Saturday's 0-0 draw with Motherwell, Jefferies praised substitutes Scott Robinson and Suso for their efforts in trying to force a winning goal. "I thought Robinson did really well when he came on, he used the ball intelligently but he was just unlucky because the ball just didn't fall for him in the box," said the manager.

He was also delighted by Suso's return following a knee injury. "It was good to get wee Suso back, and he'll be important for us in the run-in as he offers us a little bit of something different."