‘He’s serious now. Somebody is going to get a good player’
the start of December,” confirmed Levein. “That’s just the way it is. We should be contacted by the club if he is speaking to anybody as a matter of courtesy but it doesn’t always happen.”
A hamstring strain sustained in the 1-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday saw Walker taken off during the first half. He has been ruled out of tonight’s Premiership clash with Dundee, who defeated Hearts with a last-minute winner at Dens Park in September. It means Walker’s Hearts career could truly be entering its final stages providing a club is prepared to make an acceptable offer for him when the transfer window opens. Levein hopes he will be fit for Sunday’s home game with Celtic. Hearts have nine scheduled games before the end of January, including a Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with Hibs.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, whether he’ll leave in January or stay until theendoftheseason,” said Levein. The manager paid tribute to Walker’s selfless work for the team, which he explained is partly responsible for the player’s reduced effectiveness in front of goal. He scored 15 times last season and has just two goals to date in the current campaign.
“Jamie has been really good, he has changed his game slightly that he is much more diligent with his defensive work,” said Levein. “That’s helped us a fair bit.
“It’s probably been slightly to the detriment of his goal scoring. He’s had opportunities but not been quite as clinical as he has been. I think his overall game, provided he’s continuing to do the things he’s doing, will improve and if we get do better things round about him then it will give him more opportunities to create and score goals.”
Whatever Walker’s talents, they won’t help Hearts against Dundee tonight. Buoyed by a first victory since October, Hearts are seeking to win successive league matches for the second time this season. Another three points would take them to within six of rivals Hibs in fourth place, for 24 hours at least. But
CASE FOR DEFENCE “Jamie [Walker] has been really good. He has changed his game slightly so that he is much more diligent with his defensive work. That’s helped us a fair bit. It’s probably been slightly to the detriment of his goalscoring”
CRAIG LEVEIN
Levein must also consider this Sunday’s clash with champions Celtic. Kyle Lafferty, whose goal earned the win against Motherwell, is likely to be among the substitutes tonight. Posing a goal threat has proved difficult enough for Hearts without resting their top goalscorer – Lafferty’s strike on Saturday was his tenth of the season. But Levein explained that his reasoning was based on Lafferty’s lack of regular first-team football stretching back four years, to shortly after he left Rangers. He doubts the striker is currently capable of starting three games in eight days.
“This is the most amount of football he’s played in about four years,” he said. Levein suspects the striker, who has also been struggling with a virus, will be a major asset against Celtic, when he has abundant motivation to excel. The manager is tempted to preserve Lafferty for the champions’ visit. “I know he’ll relish playing against Celtic on Sunday,” said Levein. “I’ve not made my mind up on whether he should play tomorrow night or stay fresh for Sunday.”