Ivanauskas pledges to turn fortunes of Hearts around

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS today admitted he's delighted to be back at Hearts and immediately focused on turning the club's fortunes around again.

The Hearts head coach flew back into Scotland yesterday afternoon, accompanied by club owner Vladimir Romanov, after a three-week break for health reasons.

He met with his players at Riccarton for the first time since last month's 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock, but he will not resume control of team affairs until Monday.

The team have not won in their last seven matches and he's determined to rectify that situation, starting against Inverness, although he will only be a spectator at the Caledonian Stadium.

Eduard Malofeev will be in the dug-out for the final time and Ivanauskas is hoping that the caretaker manager will get his first victory under his belt before handing over the reins again. He insists he is back to full health and can't wait to get back to business and said: "It was a long time away, but also very short. I needed this rest because it was very hard for me.

"Now I feel very good and I start back on Monday at training with the team and preparing for the next game.

"I always thought I would come back, but this time was very important for me, I had some problems, now I am feeling good and I am ready.

"The priority now is the game against Inverness, we need points now, our siutation is not good and it has been a long time without a win. We need to get the three points and after that we will see what the situation is."

Ivanauskas, pictured right, stunned his players by turning up unannounced at Riccarton yesterday afternoon following their training session with Malofeev, speaking with them for just a few short minutes.

That was just enough time to warn them to expect a difficult game against Charlie Christie's side and he is hoping his visit will act as the perfect motivator for his players.

He had earlier spoken at length with Romanov at an Edinburgh hotel and although he refused to reveal the nature of the discussions, admitted he hopes that the club owner is pleased to have him back in Edinburgh.

He said: "What has been discussed between Mr Romanov and myself was private but we have a very good relationship. I hope that he is very happy I am back in Edinburgh.

"I just spoke to the players for a few minutes and wished them good luck for the game, we need fight and to work hard.

" It is always hard against Inverness, we know that from last season and I think we are ready.

"The players were happy to see me, they will be professional and look towards the game. I think they were surprised.

"I think first we need to get that one win because psychologically it is very important. If you win games there is a better situation in the table and also on the training pitch."

Ivanauskas was ordered to avoid football-related stress completely while on sick leave, although he admitted that he had bent the rules slightly to keep up to date with events at Tynecastle.

He watched the Rangers game on television in Lithuania and used the internet to find out the latest news.

Despite being disappointed with the 1-0 defeat to the Ibrox side, he's hoping there are positive times ahead for the club: "I kept myself totally away from football. I spoke with my doctors and they said that I had to relax without football, but this is my job and I used the internet to keep up to date, although I saw the last game against Rangers. The result was maybe not what I expected.

"I learned a lot from my time away from the club. This job is a hard job but I hope there will be better times ahead for the club."

Steven Pressley is understood to be in line for a return to the side - and as captain - against Inverness, although sporting director Alex Koslovski refused to confirm whether he would start.

Koslovski, who revealed that the injured Mauricio Pinilla has still not returned from Chile, said: "There are 21 players travelling to Inverness, Steven Pressley is in the squad, but we will just have to wait and see."

Taken from the Scotsman