Slovakia set to hand Hearts' Kello his first start

The Hearts goalkeeper is likely to be on the substitutes bench for Saturday's European Championship qualifier in Andorra, with Everton's Jan Mucha still considered first choice by the Slovakian national coach Vladimir Weiss.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening News, Weiss explained that Kello is now putting pressure on Mucha as a result of his outstanding performances for Hearts this season. The 28-year-old made a long-awaited international debut in last month's friendly with Luxembourg.

For the moment, Mucha remains No.?1 but Kello will get the opportunity to play against Denmark, starting for his country for the first time.

"For the national team, Jan is still the No.?1 for the Andorra match," explained Weiss. "Maybe I will give Kello a chance. That is the question. On Saturday I must go with the No.?1 and next Tuesday is the friendly against Denmark. Of the two goalkeepers, one will be in goal against Andorra and the second one will play against Denmark. Mucha was the number one from the World Cup last year. He was fantastic in the qualifying group and also in South Africa. Now, for me, it is not an easy situation because Mucha is sitting on the bench at Everton and Kello is the star in the Scottish league."

Meanwhile, the former Hearts captain Michael Stewart has signed a short-term contract with English League One club Chartlon Athletic. "He's signed until the end of the season. I just felt that, with him being unattached, it was an attractive deal in itself," said Charlton manager Chris Powell.

"He's come to bolster the squad. I felt we needed that sort of strong midfielder in there and he comes into that category."

Former Hearts manager John Robertson has agreed to continue managing East Fife next season.