Jim Jefferies calls on starlets to follow Lee Wallace

Wallace, who helped Levein get off to a winning start against the Czech Republic at Hampden on Wednesday, earned his chance at senior level after shining for Scotland Under-21s over the past few seasons.

In his first spell in charge at Tynecastle, Jefferies took great pride in seeing players like David Weir, Paul Ritchie, Colin Cameron and Neil McCann all earn international recognition.

And, while pleased to see Wallace give a good account of himself in the 1-0 win at Hampden, the Hearts boss was well aware the club didn't have a single representative in the Under-21 squad for a European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan the previous night.

"Hearts have always been associated with good young players coming through and getting into the Scotland set up," said Jefferies.

"If Scott Robinson or Craig Thomson had been fit, I think there's a chance they'd have been involved this week but it's certainly a challenge for our young players to get into the Under-21 set-up going forward.

"I certainly don't think it's a case of us not having young players who are good enough but it's up to them to show Billy Stark (the Scotland Under-21 manager] that they deserve a chance."

Jefferies was at Hampden to watch Levein's first game in charge and is hoping Wallace, who played despite suffering a nasty head injury in last weekend's victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, can make the left-back position his own under the new national manager.

"I spoke to Craig on the phone earlier in the week and he said he had left the decision about playing to Lee," added Jefferies, joking that he'd been hoping Dundee United's Paul Dixon, the other option for the position, would have got a run as well ahead of Sunday's meeting with Hearts at Tannadice.

"It was great for Lee that he played his part in what was a terrific start for Craig and we got the bonus of seeing him come in for training with a smile on his face instead of feeling negative in any way, which is great.

"Lee has put down his marker for the national team and, if it means we benefit as he tries to produce the sort of performances he'll require to hold on to that left-back slot, then you certainly won't hear me complaining."

Meanwhile, Jefferies was still adamant today that Larry Kingston is unlucky to be serving a suspension after Hearts lost their appeal against his red card in the win over Aberdeen last weekend. "I've looked at it on the video a number of times," said the Hearts boss. "It shows clearly that Fraser Fyvie's leg's higher. If Kingston gets the ball, he would've got a bad one from Fyvie. So that was an accidental clash as far as I'm concerned."

Kingston will now miss Sunday's trip to Tannadice and Jefferies believes officials should not be allowed to act as judge and jury on such matters.

"It's hard for a referee to go in there and make a decision to change his mind," he added. "Liam Miller got away with it last week, we'll not this week, but maybe the next person the following week might. It should go to an independent panel."