We miss Rudi

JOHN McGLYNN has conceded that Hearts are still struggling to compensate for the absence of Czech midfielder Rudi Skacel, who plundered 17 goals last season before a £1.6million summer transfer to Southampton.

The Tynecastle club visit Celtic Park today attempting to regain some momentum following a tumultuous two weeks in which head coach Valdas Ivanauskas requested leave due to health issues and captain Steven Pressley revealed significant unrest within the dressing-room.

However, McGlynn has highlighted the on-field absence of Skacel as a particular source of concern. No-one has emerged to assume the Czech's goalscoring mantle this season, with Skacel's compatriot Roman Bednar and Finnish ace Juho Makela the club's top scorers on four goals apiece.

Bednar misses this afternoon's visit to the league leaders due to an Achilles injury and Edgaras Jankauskas is expected to deputise, but the loss of Skacel's potency is still being felt within the club.

"Skacel was the one who could have turned a game for us at this time last year," noted McGlynn. "He could take a ball 25 yards out with his back to goal, and because he was so strong and powerful he could hit one from there and it would be in the back of the net. This year we haven't had that.

"The void he left is still open. With the greatest respect to the other guys in his position, Skacel was a bit of a maverick in that he could pop up and get a goal from nothing. He wasn't a natural left winger who stood out on the left wing and delivered crosses, although he could play that way if required. What he was really good at was coming in off the touchline, in to the old inside-left channel and getting on the end of knockdowns from the strikers.

"I can remember goals last season against Aberdeen that he scored, there was one up at Inverness that he got from being in about the box, and there was one against Falkirk which was hit from just outside the box.

"Neil McCann is not the same type of player as Skacel," explained McGlynn. "He is a left-winger who will go up and down the line, track back and keep the shape, and at times get forward and try to deliver crosses. To find another Skacel was always going to be very difficult. Certainly, we don't have anyone this season who is contributing the kind of goals he did last year."

Hearts were also set to be without McCann and Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla for this afternoon's assignment due to injury.

Taken from the Scotsman