Marius Zaliukas will help us flourish, says Stephen Elliott

Zaliukas came in from the cold to guide Hearts to a 1-0 win at Aberdeen on Saturday. It was their first clean sheet in the league since the 4-0 win at Hamilton on 21 August, when the defender last played. The Lithuania international had been sidelined despite being fit amid an impasse over his contract negotiations with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. But he was restored at Pittodrie after more positive talks last week and looks set to sign a Hearts contract this week with his four-year loan from Kaunas due to expire in December.

Elliott said: "He's an experienced player, he's our captain and I think he has a calming influence on the rest of the team. He did really well at the weekend. With him not playing and Lee Wallace picking up an injury, the manager was unfortunate having to put players in that weren't in their right position.

"But at the weekend we looked really good at the back and it's no coincidence that Marius was playing."

Elliott is looking to increase his own influence after a niggling hamstring injury prevented him making an immediate impact following his summer move from Preston North End.

The Republic of Ireland international has yet to start a game but came off the bench in Aberdeen and feels he has put his injury problems behind him.

"It's felt really good over the last couple of weeks so hopefully that's the end of it," the 26-year-old said. "I just have to work hard in training and be ready for when the manager calls on me.

"But I would rather come into a team that's winning than a team that's losing. I just have to be patient but once I get a run in the team I hope I can put my influence on it."

Hearts have yet to win at home in the SPL this season but St Mirren and Kilmarnock visit Tynecastle in the next two weeks and Elliott hopes they use those games to boost their European hopes. "We have to start picking up more points at home," he said. "With the squad here, we've got to be looking at third place."