MALPAS TO SORT OUT ELLIOT FUTURE

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas will seek clarification from Hearts over the future of Calum Elliot this weekend.

The Jambos forward, 19, joined Well on loan at the start of the season and has proved a success at Fir Park.

His loan deal is set to expire at the turn of the year and Malpas is keen to extend the agreement until the end of the season.

But Elliot has spoken this week of his desire to return to Tynecastle now that head coach Valdas Ivanauskas is back at the helm after sick leave.

The clubs meet in the Bank of Scotland Premier League on Saturday and Malpas intends to hold talks with Hearts chiefs afterwards to find out where Motherwell stand.

He said: "It was always the case that it would be down to Hearts and Calum to decide what happens.

"After Saturday's game, I'll speak to them and get the situation clarified."

Elliot opted to join Motherwell on loan after struggling to hold down a first-team place at Hearts at the start of the season.

Even though he has netted just two goals so far, Malpas insists there is no doubt the Steelmen have benefited from the agreement.

And he says he would be more than happy for the youngster to remain at Fir Park for the remainder of the campaign and boost their chances of moving away from the relegation zone.

He added: "I tried to get him for a year initially.

"He gives us something different and provides us with a physical presence up front.

"He hasn't scored a lot of goals but he has done well for us and we would have no qualms about keeping him for the rest of the season."

Meanwhile, Eugenius Riabovas hopes there will still be a coaching role for him at Hearts.

He was set to assume to role of interim head coach until Ivanauskas' return to Tynecastle two weeks ago threw his future into doubt.

The Lithuanian is now hoping to hold talks with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov over the weekend.

"I still want to come to Hearts," he told the Edinburgh Evening News. "I believe I will only help them.

"At this moment I can't say whether I will go or not go because I don't know if there is a position for me."

Taken from the Scotsman