No mind games –Levein is a big fan of Defoe
Suspicions of mind games prompted Craig Levein to suggest he was eyeing a move for Rangers striking star, Alfredo Morelos.
The Hearts manager made his comment when asked about speculation linking the Glasgow club with a move for his own player, Aaron Hickey.
Referencing the fact the clubs are due to meet at Tynecastle this afternoon, he said it was a story he was taking with a lump of salt, then mischievously spoke of his own admiration for the Colombian.
Yet, as he took a more serious look ahead to the fixture, it was the attributes of the Light Blues other prolific frontman, Jermain Defoe, that was occupying his mind.
“Steven Gerrard very rarely plays both of them in the same team together, and Morelos has been away with Colombia, so it could be he will just go with Defoe,” said the Tynecastle gaffer.
“That is what he did in the Hamilton game before the break (a 5-0 win for Rangers, in which the 37-year-old veteran hit a hat-trick) and I thought Defoe was fantastic.
“I don’t know the guy personally, but anyone I know who knows him talks about him being a very good professional.
“He’s certainly fit and a very, very intelligent player, who has used his qualities to add something to their front line.”
As to whether Defoe can help elevate Rangers from challengers to champions, though, Levein is not sure.
“You could look at Defoe’s contribution, and the fact they have more high-quality players in their squad than they did last season, and argue that they’ve got better” he said.
“It’s always difficult to work out whether they’re improving, or some of the other teams are faltering a little bit.
“If you look around, most of the teams you’d expect to be challenging in the top five or six have had poorer starts to the season.
“The frustration about our own situation is felt by me more than anybody. But I am absolutely convinced we will get better, with this game a potential catalyst to us getting moving in the right direction.”