Hearts' Kello tipped to be No.1 for Slovakia

HEARTS goalkeeper Marian Kello is on course to become Slovakia's established No.1 as he continues putting pressure on the current incumbent, Jan Mucha of Everton.

Vladimir Weiss, the country's national coach, revealed today that the 28-year-old has the potential to dislodge Mucha, who is starved of first-team football as understudy to Tim Howard at Goodison.

Kello is expected to make his first international start for Slovakia in this evening's friendly with Denmark having debuted against Luxembourg last month. He was an unused substitute in Saturday's European Championship qualifying win over Andorra.

Weiss believes Kello has the potential to be first choice by the time Slovakia meet Andorra again in June, admitting that competition for the goalkeeping slot is becoming increasingly intense.

"Of course Kello can be number one in the future," said Weiss, speaking exclusively to the Evening News. "It's lucky for me because we have three fantastic goalkeepers, Mucha, Kello and Dusan Pernis at Dundee United. You can play only one, this is the situation for the coach. For now the number one is Mucha. Maybe next time it will be Kello.

"Mucha is a good goalkeeper but maybe he must change club in the summer. I will speak with his coach at Everton who can maybe help me.

"Kello is fantastic. I know him from years ago, he is a good guy and a nice guy. My son is now with Rangers and he is good friends with Marian. Sometimes they go for lunch together and my son always tells me that Marian is a nice guy.

"But, more importantly, he is a good goalkeeper with Hearts."