New deal for Rudi Skacel

RUDI Skacel has signed a short-term extension to his contract which will enable him to remain a Hearts player until the end of January.

The move ends months of uncertainty about the future of the 32-year-old Czech international, who made his first appearance of the season off the bench in the league defeat by Dundee United last Sunday.

A member of the Hearts squad which won the Scottish Cup and finished second in the SPL in 2005-6, Skacel moved to Southampton at the end of that season for an estimated 1.6?million. After spells with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic and Larissa in Greece he returned to Tynecastle last September, signing a one-year contract which Hearts had the option to extend by a further year.

The left midfielder enjoyed a successful run in Jim Jefferies' team, scoring 13 goals in 29 league matches as Hearts eventually claimed third place in the SPL. Skacel's pre-season activity has been restricted by injury.

Hearts' decision not to re-sign him for the full season will heighten speculation that they would be willing to sell him if a reasonable offer came in.

It is understood, however, that they retain the right to add another six months on to the half-year deal he has just signed, thus keeping him for the season.