Zaliukas can be the new Elvis, claims Ivanauskas

HEARTS head coach Valdas Ivanauskas believes his countryman Marius Zaliukas can evolve as the long-term successor to Steven Pressley in defence, provided he continues the steady improvement shown recently.

Zaliukas has looked a far more accomplished player for Hearts since defecting from midfield to centre-back, and has given assured performances against St Mirren and Motherwell in Pressley's absence.

With the former captain freed by the club, Ivanauskas is looking for a similarly dominant defender to replace Pressley.

Christophe Berra was rested from the first team last week as Zaliukas, who joined Hearts on loan from Kaunas in August, partnered Ibrahim Tall at the heart of the defence.

With the Lithuanian showing his aptitude at the back following an uneasy start to the season as a holding midfielder, Ivanauskas feels that continued progression will see Zaliukas become a mainstay for Hearts.

"It's important to have players who can play together at centre-back every week, that is vital to the defensive work in the team," explained Ivanauskas. "Zaliukas is capable of doing that if he works hard in every training session and in every game. I am looking closely at how he is working each day and, if he is working well he will get every opportunity to play.

"I know Marius very well and he needs to work hard if he wants to play regularly in the first team like Elvis did. He has done well so far. I think he is happy and I am happy, so that is good for his confidence. Christophe was not in the squad last Saturday so we have big numbers for this position, which is good. It is important to find a constant for the defence because that brings stability at the back."

Zaliukas is already a Lithuanian internationalist with three full caps and is held in high regard by his national coach Algimantas Liubinska.

Both Ivanauskas and Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov believe that he has a prosperous future in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, as predicted by the Evening News on Wednesday, Craig Gordon has been confirmed as Hearts' permanent captain following the departure of Steven Pressley.

The goalkeeper has a disciplinary meeting with his club's director of infrastructure, Pedro Lopez, scheduled for this Tuesday as part of the recriminations from his involvement in Pressley's rebellious media address of October 27.

However, Gordon's future does not appear to be in any serious danger after he was awarded the armband.

"Craig is a young boy but he is a big name in Scotland and in other countries," said Ivanauskas.

"He is a big player for the team and in my opinion it's good for the team and the supporters to have him as captain. He deserves it."

Hartley, another of the Riccarton Three, was summoned to a similar disciplinary meeting with Lopez on Thursday but remains a Hearts player for the moment and retains his role as vice captain.

"Paul is an important player," said the Lithuanian head coach.

"He stays at the club, stays in the team.

"You saw last season how important he is and maybe it is normal for a player who has had a long-term injury that his game can go down. I think Paul is unhappy with his game.

"He is such an experienced player. There is no question how important he is and from my side he will stay here."

Taken from the Scotsman