Sandy Clark urges Jefferies not to give up on Craig Bryson

Having watched Craig Bryson cope comfortably with the pressures of Kilmarnock's fight against relegation, Sandy Clark believes Hearts should not relent in their pursuit of the 23-year-old midfielder. He likens Bryson to former team-mate Gary Mackay in terms of technique and playing style. A suitable replacement for Michael Stewart, if ever there was one.

Negotiations between Hearts and Kilmarnock reached a standstill earlier this week when Michael Johnston, the Rugby Park chairman, refused an offer of 375,000 for Bryson. That led to Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager, declaring in yesterday's Evening News that completion of a deal was unlikely. Clark, himself a former Tynecastle manager, has implored Jefferies not to give up.

He worked as Kilmarnock's first-team coach during the second half of last season under Jimmy Calderwood and Jimmy Nicholl. Together they helped preserve the club's SPL status and one man whose ability and maturity stood out during those tense, emotion-filled final weeks was Bryson.

Hearts are in the market for a tempo-dictating midfielder and he has ticked all the boxes for Jefferies for several weeks now. Clark fully understands the attraction.

Fashioning goalscoring opportunities from midfield in modern-day football can be a valuable asset but it appears Johnston has priced Bryson out of a move to Edinburgh, at least for the moment. Clark is keen for Hearts to keep probing.

"Craig will bring goals from the middle of the park, that's for sure," he said. "He's still a young player and, without any shadow of a doubt, he's Kilmarnock's best player. The potential is incredible for him because he could really go on and become top class. He does get into the box and get goals but he likes the ball to feet as well. He's very good at playing the final pass to create scoring opportunities.

"I'd describe him as being like Gary Mackay, maybe because I played with Gary. Paul Hartley in his prime was a bit more direct and pacy than Craig, who is more of a footballer in central midfield. His technique, football ability and vision are his best qualities.

"He's played in the SPL for a number of years now so he knows the league and what's required. He's a player you can rely on. Jim Jefferies will know that which is obviously why he's interested in bringing him to Hearts."

Avoiding relegation with Kilmarnock proved Bryson also harbours the kind of hardened mindset necessary to succeed at the top level. Clark noticed this instantly when he arrived in Ayrshire alongside Calderwood and Nicholl in January.

"Craig won't have any problems if he goes to Hearts. He's got loads of enthusiasm. He will give it his best shot wherever he goes but the Hearts fans would appreciate him and back him right away. He's an attacking, central midfielder but he isn't frightened to work back the way either.

"He's had a good grounding having spent time at Clyde before moving on to Kilmarnock. He's a lad who just enjoys playing football. Whenever you get the ball to him he's happy with it. I think he's young enough to realise he still has a lot to learn. If he ends up a Hearts player, which would take him to a bigger club than Kilmarnock, it will certainly be a step in the right direction for him."

It remains to be seen if discussions between the respective hierarchies resume. If they do, Clark would likely be first on the phone to wish Bryson well.