A Marius made in heaven for Hearts

The Tynecastle outfit travel to face Aberdeen in the fourth round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup this weekend and go into the match undefeated in their last five league matches.

Zaliukas was named vice captain of Hearts at the beginning of the season but missed a chunk of the start of the campaign because of a four-match ban and then suffered an ankle injury just weeks after returning to the squad.

In the three league matches he has been involved in since his return to the side in the 2-1 League Cup win over Celtic in December, Hearts have picked up seven points from a possible nine.

And McCann says the big defender can play a key role again for the Jambos when they take on the Dons on Saturday.

He said: "I know big Marius very well and I like him as a player, although his disciplinary record could be a bit better.

"He is a big, uncompromising defender and he's a valuable player for Hearts, but he's missed a fair chunk of the season so far and I think Hearts have missed him.

"Having said that, Ismael Bouzid has played well and big Jose is probably in his best position at left centre back.

"Having Marius back gives the whole side a bit more stability, he was there last year when Hearts were doing well and he was in a settled back four alongside the likes of Robbie Neilson.

"Having Marius will certainly be a big help to Hearts. They need all of their big players fit and available because I don't think that they have the strongest of squads.

"They have had quite a number of injuries and they've had situations where the likes of Calum Elliot has been injured, come back and then been injured again almost straight away and I don't think he's the only one that's happened to. Clubs go through these kinds of things and you've just got to try to come out of the other side of it.

"I watched them against Hamilton a few weeks back and it was probably the worst that I have seen them playing for a long time, but I think that since then a few things have started to click and they've brought a few more of the younger boys in as well.

"The main thing right now is that a few of the boys are getting back to fitness and are starting to come back into the squad and that will be a huge help for Csaba Laszlo."

Dons boss Mark McGhee has said that Hearts are one of the favourites to lift the cup this season and McCann agrees with that sentiment, adding: "Hearts are always a major threat in these competitions and without doubt that's the case again this year. I think they are still considered by the majority of people to be the third force in Scottish football and it is up to them to prove that now.

"In recent history they have won the cup twice, which is an impressive record for any club outside of the Old Firm. I was lucky enough to be with the club on both of those occasions, although I was on crutches the second time around, so I know what that is like.

"Hearts fans will always go into games like this thinking that this could be their year again.

"Mark McGhee is a clever man, he knows his football and the reputation that Hearts have got. If he is saying that then he obviously believes Hearts are a big threat.

He thinks they are a team who can win the cup this year and a victory would be a massive confidence boost, without doubt."

Having played there with Hearts and Rangers, McCann acknowledged that the trip to Pittodrie could be one of the most testing of the season for Laszlo's side. The Jambos have won just twice away to the Dons since 2006, including a 3-1 victory that McCann played in, and he continued: "It doesn't matter who you play for, Pittodrie was always a difficult place to go, they always made it tough. It was a hard place to get a result.

"I don't think Aberdeen are the team they once were, to be fair, but they will still make it difficult.

"I think Hearts are on the ascendancy, although they are probably still not playing the way that the fans want them to, but they are now getting the results which is the most pleasing thing."

The former Jambos winger has seen Hearts in action this season and says that they put in their worst performance in recent times in the 2-1 defeat to Hamilton last month. However he believes that they have started to pick up their performance levels and, crucially, more points in their last four or five matches since then.

"They have started to pick up in terms of points and performance of late and Michael Stewart has been playing well. I know they didn't get the result that they would have wanted against Hibs but I think that to avoid defeat at Easter Road is still pretty good.

"I think it has been difficult for Hearts because Csaba Laszlo has been well documented about the problems over bringing in a new striker, so to still be picking up points when he hasn't been able to strengthen his side in that area is quite good going."