Elliot happy to be back at Hearts

RECALLED Hearts striker Calum Elliot spent New Year's Day training with Motherwell, but yesterday led the Tynecastle attack against Dunfermline, with the teenager later stressing this was the only place he wanted to be.

Elliot was dramatically named in the first-team line-up having only been called back from a six-month loan period at Motherwell the previous afternoon. The striker played the entire 90 minutes, and afterwards made clear his delight at returning to Hearts after scoring only twice in 17 appearances with Motherwell.
Click to learn more...

"It's a relief to be back to be honest," he said. "This is where I have always wanted to play. it's my hometown club and to play for Hearts is a great honour. Hopefully I will get many more chances in the future.

"It's not like I didn't want to play for Motherwell, but my heart's in it for Hearts," he continued. "I have come back and I have to prove myself again. It would have been nice to have scored a goal in my first game back. That was what I was dreaming about. To not score is a bit disappointing, but the main thing is we got three points."

Elliot admitted he was surprised to be told he was playing from the start having spent Monday training with Motherwell. In his time away he has missed the latest dramas to have afflicted the club, but head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, despite a brief break for illness, remains in charge.

Elliot added: "There are still good characters in the changing-room and they spur the players on. I just tried to slot back in. Hopefully I have come back a better player."

Ivanauskas applauded the player's efforts on his return, and said he will be an asset in the second half of the season. "I know Calum very well from last season," he said. "He works for the team, and that is very important for me. He has come back much, much stronger."

Taken from the Scotsman