Mikoliunas ready to face Scotland once more after dive controversy

ARSENAL KIEV have a different Saulius Mikoliunas to that which delighted and frustrated Hearts supporters in equal measure. At least, that is the player's assertion as he prepares to showcase his undoubted talent against Scotland once again.

Derided for diving to win a penalty on his last engagement with those in dark blue, Mikoliunas has moved on in more ways than one since that moment at Hampden Park. He is more mature and claims to be a more complete footballer having moved to the Ukrainian Premier League last summer.

"I don't think I have a point to prove against Scotland. I concentrate on each game the same," he said. "I don't think I have something to prove, I just want to do my best for my country.

"I don't know why so many Lithuanians have left Hearts now. For myself, I needed to move. I had been in Scotland for four years and I needed a new challenge. I have become a better player since moving to Ukraine. I have more experience and it has helped my career. The Ukrainian league is a very strong league, our team beat Galatasaray in the Europa League last week and the team is very strong. The move has been good for me."

There are those, such as the former Hearts captain Christophe Berra, who will gladly reacquaint themselves with the 26-year-old winger on Friday evening. Most of the Scotland party will turn a blind eye, while the only attention he gets from the Tartan Army will be howls of disdain.

Mikoliunas is unperturbed. "I forgot about the penalty a long time ago. I won't think about it at all, it doesn't bother me." In fact it is his national coach, Raimondas Zutautas, who harbours a sense of injustice despite not even being charge of Lithuania when the incident occurred in September 2007.

"I remember this moment because Mikoliunas got a three-game ban for this. I don't think that was correct," he said. "If someone handles a ball and it is a penalty you do not get a three-game ban. But because we are a small nation from Lithuania it is always different. Of course the punishment wrong. Can you remember anyone else punished for this?

"If you play in the Champions League you get a yellow card (for diving], nobody gets three games. That was wrong but now there is new motivation for us. I spoke with Saulius last week and he is ready, he wants to play. He has full motivation, he is an ex-player from Hearts so I am waiting to put him in the team."

Mikoliunas and several of his colleagues are well known to Craig Levein and the Scotland coaching staff having played at Hearts. He does not, however, believe Lithuania are disadvantaged because of familiarity.

"Maybe the experience of the players who played in Scotland can help us but the Scottish players will know our strengths and weaknesses," said Mikoliunas. "I think it's equal. We can use it to help us and they will use it to help them. I think we should be equal to Scotland in physical conditions. Sometimes it can be an advantage with players playing in different leagues, like we have, but the Scottish league is quite a strong league. The Scottish players play together in their league and this is a big advantage for them. We need to win because it is the first game and we are at home. We are not expecting an easy game but of course I expect to win.

"I don't think about the result, I think our team must give our best. We will speak about Scotland and give the coach any information we have. Zutautas was a great player for Lithuania but as a coach he needs time to work with the team."

Like his coach, Mikoliunas is concerned about the influence Darren Fletcher can exert upon this opening European Championship qualifer.

"I think the Scottish national team have plenty good players, but one of the best is Darren Fletcher. I have seen him playing last season and he was very consistent. He is always in the team at Manchester United and he is one of the dangers to us."