Stevenson ready to prove he's worth new Hearts contract

AFTER starting Hearts' last three matches as substitute, Ryan Stevenson today outlined his desire to reclaim a first-team place and convince the club hierarchy that he merits a new contract.

• Ryan Stevenson

Hearts have the option of extending Stevenson's existing agreement and he is keen to prove his worth. "I'll just keep working hard but it is frustrating," he said. "I'm out of contract at the end of the season so I want to do as well as I can to try and get a new contract. I need to try and impress. It's been hard but I'll try to be as professional as I can to get back in the team.

"I spoke to the manager last week about it and he just said things will be okay. I'm desperate to stay, it's a massive club. I've come from Ayr and I always said I wanted to be in the SPL. I knew it would take me time to settle in and I knew I was going to be in and out of the team. It wasn't going to be as easy as playing every week.

"Obviously you get worried when you're sitting on the bench. Are you surplus to requirements? What's going to happen? I'll speak to the manager over the course of the next two or three months and we'll try to get something sorted out. I genuinely want to stay at Hearts because I know where we can go and what we can achieve. It's something I want to be part of. I only spoke to the manager briefly but I'm hoping he's keen to keep me. I work hard every day in training. If he needs to call upon me at any time he knows he's going to get 100 per cent out of me."

Meanwhile, David Witteveen has thanked Hearts for allowing him to remain on loan at Dundee despite the First Division club being unable to contribute to his wages.

Hearts agreed to foot the bill for Witteveen rather than returning him to Riccarton, where he does not feature in manager Jim Jefferies' plans.

"I have to thank Hearts for letting me stay here," said the striker. "They could have taken me back and I would have only trained with them."