Hearts' riches fit for a wing

The Lithuanian vies for game time with David Templeton at present, with Suso Santana and Andy Driver due to return from injury imminently. That list is the envy of many a SPL manager.

Novikovas replaced Templeton for the closing stages of the New Year's Day encounter with Hibernian at Tynecastle. His influence during an 11-minute cameo appearance was devastating. His first low cross saw Gary Glen squander a clear scoring opportunity, but his second ball loping on to the head of Kevin Kyle was the prelude to a party. The striker planted home the winning goal and joined Novikovas as the saviour of Hearts supporters.

For most of this season, Templeton has been the purveyor of similar joy. Driver and Suso have previously delighted the Tynecastle public with their array of tricks and flicks, not to mention goals. Whilst many clubs crave natural width and flair in the chess-like modern game, Hearts have it in abundance.

This plethora of panache is, as much as anything, driving what is now a fascinating title challenge in Edinburgh. Jim Jefferies' 4-3-3 formation lends itself largely to traditional wing play and has allowed Templeton to evolve into a supporters' idol this season with seven goals and several vital assists. These have helped propel Hearts to within six points of the SPL summit.

Suso began the campaign looking sprightly before requiring an operation to repair damaged knee cartilage. Driver has not played since April due to thigh and knee problems but is ready to resume full training, with a first-team return predicted this month. Novikovas, still only 20 but in his third season with Hearts, has found himself marginalised largely as a consequence of Templeton's form. But skinning Ian Murray and whipping over that inch- perfect cross for Kyle encapsulated his talent in a few brief seconds of play.

"Football is great if you play with wingers," says Jose Quitongo, pictured right, a remnant of Jefferies' first spell as Hearts manager. "The style of play this season is great from Hearts' point of view. If you play one target man up front and two fast wingers, you create a lot of chances. That will bring a lot of goals and it's great to see. Scottish football is a little bit boring at the moment but, when Hearts play with three up front, they are really entertaining with players like Novikovas and Templeton getting involved. It's really good to watch.

"Jim always loved to play with wingers. Kevin Kyle is the target man so if you play with wide guys and get the ball in the box he will score a lot of goals. Jim always liked three up front and Hearts are playing very well.

"I was at Tynecastle on Saturday and Templeton is a good player, a tricky winger. But Hibs matched him very well, they didn't give him space and when he had the ball he had two markers. When Novikovas came on he put in two great crosses. The one for Kyle's goal was different class, a beautiful goal."

Scotland, of course, was once a traditional breeding ground for tanner-ba' players. In the 1950s and 60s, streets across the country were crammed with young urchins perfecting their skills on imperfect surfaces. The foreign influence meant native talent became slightly repressed during the 1980s and 90s, however Hearts have the best of both worlds with Templeton and Driver both home-grown and Suso and Novikovas plucked from Spain and Lithuania respectively.

Quitongo was born in Angola but made his name in Scotland with a host of top-flight and lower-league clubs. He now lives permanently in Lanarkshire with his family and longs for the day when every team contained two stereotypical wingers. "I am a winger myself. I used to see Rangers playing with Laudrup and Celtic with Di Canio but now there are not too many wingers. I don't know why that is but I like to see wingers play."

He is not alone. Those who frequent Tynecastle have warmed to the attacking ethos adopted by their team of late. Whenever Templeton takes possession of the ball, a crackle of excitement courses through the crowd in anticipation of what delights he may provide. Novikovas, Driver and Suso possess the same ability to excite the public.

"Hearts just look like a good all-round team," continues Quitongo. "The defence is strong, the midfield is good and the attack is scoring goals. Jim is a manager who always wanted competition for places. The squad he has now is full of players fighting for places and that's good for the club. When they come on to the park they want to do their best for the team to make sure they play again.

"I've been really impressed with Hearts this season. If they keep playing like that you could see a surprise at the end of the season. You never know."

Jefferies tactics and emphasis on attack have certainly addressed the perception of Hearts as a team who score once and then cling for dear life to their slender lead. With pacey wingers, bustling centre-forwards and industrious midfielders, those days are long gone.

"Jefferies is a great manager," says Quitongo. "He knew the way I wanted to play. He knows the players very well and he knows who wants to play for him. I think a lot of teams should play with three up front like Hearts because it's more entertaining. You see more goals. Hearts will always score goals."

Not only are the Tynecastle players battling one another to score goals, they are also fighting for the role of provider. Should Hearts' wingers proffer as much delight in 2011 as they did in the latter part of 2010, it promises to be quite a year for anyone who enjoys good, old-fashioned attacking football.