David will bag a Van load of goals Levein backs striker to shine for Hearts
CRAIG LEVEIN insists David Vanecek will be a scoring machine if Hearts can revive their blistering early-season form that saw them top the table.
The Jambos finally completed the signing of the Czech striker from Teplice earlier this week and the 27-year-old has travelled to Spain to hook up with his new team-mates as they embarked on a winter training camp in Murcia.
While Tynecastle gaffer Levein admits his new arrival may require extra fitness training this week, he is backing Vanecek to thrill the Gorgie faithful.
He said: “The deal came about in the summer as we were looking for a traditional targetman and there were half a dozen that had come up who were in our price range.
“John Murray did a bit of work on David and he was the one he recommended.
“So we all had a look and he is exactly what we’re looking for. He’s a good age with a decent goalscoring record.
“He has been off for three or four weeks so he will probably need a little bit of extra fitness work this week. The rest of the boys have only had a week off so they can almost just go back into the routine, with maybe just a little more work.
“That said I don’t expect David to take that long to really get going.
“Sometimes you bring in younger players and it takes a bit of time but I don’t expect that with him.
“He’s different. We’ll need to cross the ball for him to be at his most effective and we’re quite good at that.
“So if we continue to do what we did particularly during the early part of the season it will suit what he does. I don’t want to change him, we need to do things that will enable him to score.”
Levein can see the green shoots of recovery after enduring one of the worst injury crises he has ever known as a manager – with Christophe Berra, John Souttar, Uche Ikpeazu, Steven Naismith and Jimmy Dunne all spending time out.
Having gone into the winter break on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 over Hibs at Easter Road and the arrival of Vanecek as well as defender Conor Shaughnessy, Levein reckons the Jambos are back in a good place.
He said: “It was because of who got injured – if you could have picked four or five players who I did not want injured then it was them. We have had a difficult time and it’s not guaranteed we will get back to where we were because there are a lot of things involved like chemistry between players and people finding form.
“But the signs are there that once we have everyone fit then we will more likely be the team we were at the start of the season.
“It’s been difficult. Results haven’t been as good as we’d have liked. I don’t know if it’s making excuses but to play a certain way we need certain things in the team.
“If they’re not there then it’s more difficult. I didn’t expect to lose as many key players as we did. Some of it might be on my part, maybe I should have done some things better and picked up more points by doing something different. Every day is a school day.”
Levein is now hopeful on-loan Leeds defender Shaughnessy can fill the role vacated by Republic of Ireland stopper Dunne who was recalled to Turf Moor by Burnley.
He said: “I got a feeling when Jimmy got injured and went back down that he was looking for something else.
“He’s a brilliant kid and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done at Hearts.”
Meanwhile, Levein refused to rule out more new faces arriving.
He said: “There are a few things that might happen. It’s early to say our business is done.”