Jambos hoping to have the Edg in Falkirk

THE return of a fit Edgaras Jankauskas at the Falkirk Stadium tonight would be extremely timely from a Hearts point of view.

Attacking responsibilities have fallen squarely on the shoulders of the capable Andrius Velicka for several weeks now, so a re-appearance by his fellow Lithuanian would present and opportunity to unload some of the burden.

Czech pair Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil are nursing their own injury concerns and are unlikely to be available, but Jankauskas is rehabilitated following a persistent thigh problem.

The 31-year-old returned to training with the first-team squad towards the end of last week and is striving only for match fitness.

Jankauskas' season has been severely interrupted thus far - he has played just 95 minutes in a Hearts shirt since August's Champions League elimination in Athens - and, as a consequence, his promising partnership with Bednar has been fractured. However, at a time when three points would be a genuine tonic for the side, Jankauskas is preparing to return to the fold.

League draws against Hibs and Dunfermline have accompanied the home defeat by Kilmarnock and Wednesday's CIS Cup defeat at Easter Road. Crisis headlines have been prominent in recent weeks with Hearts slipping further behind SPL leaders Celtic, and since being taken under the command of Eduard Malofeev the club have yet to sample victory.

Jankauskas, though, prefers to remain of positive mind. "Last week's performance [at Celtic Park] showed that our team is not as bad as some people think," the Lithuanian pointed out. "We didn't deserve to lose that game and the performance was very encouraging.

"Celtic are going to be difficult to catch, but there are a few games to play yet. Nothing is lost. Whether we are playing Falkirk away, Kilmarnock at home, Celtic away, we go out in a positive frame of mind to get three points. You must always try for the win.

"Last season nobody expected us to achieve what we achieved. Maybe the weight of that pressure has had an influence on our performances this year.

"People expect us to win every game and that is one of the differences from last year. I think other teams' perception of Hearts has changed and we get more respect from out opponents now. They put us at the same level as Rangers and Celtic, therefore we are always playing teams who are giving 110 per cent.

"We have to be stronger mentally to deal with this. But it's human that when you don't win for four or five games you lose a bit of your confidence. That affects your performance and that is what's going on right now with our team. A few good results, though, and we will be back on track."

Malofeev has had to wait for his temporary reign to properly commence since assuming control from sick head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, with the stuttering form yet to dissipate. However, Jankauskas is quick to reject claims that the recent winless run is down to warring factions at Hearts' Riccarton training base.

"The whole team, even the players left on the bench or in the stand, are all positive and fully committed to the club. I don't think it can be said that we are lacking in attitude," he continued. "The boys in the dressing room are united. There is no split and no groups.

"I have heard people saying that we were split into groups, the Lithuanians and others, but that's not true. I can tell you that we are united after all games. When we are not getting results maybe it can be that some players have different opinions, but that is normal because we all want to find a solution to the problem.

"I am sure that the dressing room is united and very positive."

Malofeev has other injury concerns to worry him for this evening, but it is safe to assume he would reserve a warm welcome if the towering Jankauskas emerged from the treatment room later today to declare himself available.

"There is a chance that I will play, but we will wait to see how I feel," said the forward.

"I got one serious injury this season and then a series of complications after that. It has been a problem for me and I'm struggling to get back to full fitness.

"I'm working hard, trying to push myself, and hopefully I'll do it soon."

Alex Koslovski, a sport director with Hearts, delivered the news that Malofeev is contending with injuries to two of his wide players.

"We still have injuries to Deividas Cesnauskis and Neil McCann," said the Russian. "Jankauskas is back in training, but he is still a little bit unfit. All our other players are OK to play."

Jose Goncalves is another player nearing optimum fitness and will play his fourth game this evening since his return from a summer hip operation. He delivered a standout performance on Hearts' last visit to the Falkirk Stadium back in April, when the Edinburgh side secured a 2-1 victory in Ivanauskas' first game in charge.

"We are playing away and it will be tough for us," said Goncalves. "We have played away in Glasgow, then at Easter Road and now Falkirk. We simply need the three points, but we will require to work hard for them.

"We don't have a problem [within the squad], we just need to keep going and working hard. We have been training hard and we know it is an important game against Falkirk. We need three points."

Taken from the Scotsman