Hearts: Rudi Skacel has his detractors eating humble pie with increasing goals' tally in his second coming

Five goals in nine games from the diminutive Czech have acted like a tonic on the Edinburgh club and inspired their resurgence to third place in the SPL. Goal nets are rippling, the "we're not worthy" salutes are back, as is the baiting of Hibernian. It's like Skacel's never been away.

Now 31, the midfielder is five years older than when he lashed his first Hearts goal at Rugby Park in July 2005. Yet little has changed. The cheeky grin is still there, complemented by that inimitable swagger, and he still harbours the talent to back it all up.

Mimicking a "Losers" sign on his forehead in front of Hibernian's East Stand in the recent Edinburgh derby sent Hearts fans into raptures. However, it is footballing feats as opposed to comedy antics which have restored him to the forefront of supporters' hearts since he signed a one-year contract in September.

A goal against Rangers on his second home debut, a breathtaking hat-trick to defeat St Mirren and last weekend's volley against Hamilton confirm he has lost none of his scoring touch. Skacel would be entitled to view every ball he bangs into a net this season as a metaphorical forcing of doubt back down a pessimist's gullet.

"I think he's back to his best. He's scoring goals and overall it's been a fantastic return to the club," said Paul Hartley, the Aberdeen captain who combined with Skacel to score 34 of Hearts' goals during that unforgettable 2005/06 season.

"Some people might have thought Rudi was past his best and couldn't achieve what he did the first time around. It just shows you he is a quality player. Since he's come back to Hearts he's scored five times. He still has that goal threat, something the club has been missing over the last year or so from the middle of the park.

"He's been a brilliant signing. People were maybe judging him too early, saying he wasn't a great signing for Hearts. But he's proved them all wrong. It wouldn't surprise me if scored between ten and 15 goals this season. It looks like he's heading that way just now.

"He did it first time round and I don't think he ever doubted his quality. People thought that because he's a bit older and coming back to a club second time round it doesn't always work, but he's shown it has worked and it's a great bit of business."

Hartley and Skacel became close friends during their season together at Tynecastle and have remained so ever since. Both took equal delight from some crushing Edinburgh derby victories that year and share a similar sense of humour. Neither is averse to a wind-up.

"I think that's Rudi's character, I think he's still the same," opined Hartley. "It's just the type of lad he is.

"He's brilliant about the dressing room and great to have on the pitch. Just an all-round quality player. Hearts are really reaping benefits of him just now.

"We're still close. I was speaking to Rudi when Hearts played us at Pittodrie and I've still got a lot of time for him. From the first time we played together we did pretty well, we scored 17 goals each that season.

"He's a very infectious player. It's a great bit of business by Hearts bringing him back on a free transfer and he's shown his quality straight away."

It could be argued Hearts have signed a more rounded Skacel than the player recruited on loan from Marseille by George Burley five years ago. Subsequent spells playing in England, Germany, his native Czech Republic and Greece added to the experience of a player who is also a Czech internationalist.

For all the memories of Southampton, Hertha Berlin, Slavia Prague, Larissa and his own national team, Skacel has never looked more at home than at Tynecastle.

Still, his appearance back in Edinburgh was regarded as surprising after a public fallout with Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov in 2006 which prompted his transfer to England.

"I don't know the ins and outs of the relationship they had but when a player like Rudi becomes available on a free transfer, it's a no-brainer for the club," continued Hartley. "He's got that experience about him, he knows the club and he knows what he's about. He's been around, he's been down south and played abroad.

"He scores goals, anything from 30 yards out he'll have a go. He's dangerous from set-pieces which he's already proved this season.

"The supporters love him, which is a big help to him. Having him in there will be great for the other guys in the dressing room. He's very experienced and Hearts have a few younger boys coming through so Rudi is the type of lad they will love.

"Opposition fans might not like him but the Hearts supporters certainly do. He's the kind of guy you want to have on your side."

Hartley has found himself in opposition to Skacel twice since leaving Hearts. They both played as substitutes in Scotland's friendly against Czech Republic in March this year before coming face to face at Pittodrie last month.

On both occasions, Hartley has been conscious of suppressing his mate's insatiable scoring appetite. "He's left-sided and I think that's a big thing in his favour. All the goals he's scored so far have been at Tynecastle. That shows you how big a danger he is at home.

"He's always a threat and you have to be wary. You have to warn your goalkeeper prior to playing that anything from 30 yards out, Rudi will have a pop."

Those who bow literally at Skacel's feet know exactly the magic they can produce. Many others have been forced into that way of thinking.