Exclusive:Rogers Mato's arrival as Hearts outline plan for Alex Schwolow, Craig Gordon, Sabah Kerjota & Islam Chesnokov
Scottish Premiership leaders prepare to face Dundee United
Alexander Schwolow and Craig Gordon will both be involved in Hearts’ remaining 15 league games as they continue to challenge for the Scottish Premiership title. The club have a future plan in mind for their two most senior goalkeepers, whilst also intending to utilise wingers Sabah Kerjota and Islam Chesnokov. The Ugandan winger Rogers Mato is due in Edinburgh within the next 48 hours to further strenghten the squad at Tynecastle Park.
Gordon was selected ahead of his German counterpart Schwolow for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Celtic. Schwolow played the previous week against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup, but head coach Derek McInnes went for Gordon’s extra experience of Celtic games. Schwolow is now challenging to regain his place for this Saturday’s league visit to Dundee United.
Kerjota made an impressive substitute appearance on Sunday and is pushing hard for a starting spot wide on the right of Hearts’ midfield. Chesnokov was left out of the squad against Celtic as he undergoes some intense fitness training after arriving in Edinburgh at the start of the month. The Kazakhstan internationalist made his debut in maroon as a substitute against Falkirk and could be back involved this week at Tannadice.
McInnes spoke exclusively to the Edinburgh News to outline his thinking on Schwolow, Gordon, Kerjota and Chesnokov. “We thought long and hard about starting Sabah against Celtic,” he said. “I just got a feeling from the way Martin O'Neill was talking that the big striker [Tomáš Čvančara] was going to play and that [Daizen] Maeda would play off the left. Because Maeda likes to take you inside when he plays out there, it leaves gaps for Kieran Tierney to drive into. We just thought that maybe Harry Milne was the right option there [at right-midfield], as he was in the first game against Celtic at Tynecastle when we won 3-1. He played in front of Oisin McEntee.
“We always felt Sabah would get a good part of the game. With the way the game was playing out, we thought it was the right time to get him on. I thought his touch in the middle of the pitch and his pass for Kabore to run through [at Auston Trusty's red card] were terrific. I like a lefty on the right, particularly when you play with two strikers. You need to be able to connect with your two strikers.
“We thought that the game would maybe slow down and Sabah would get a wee bit more chance to have that impact. I was so pleased with him. He’s such a good kid. We resisted putting Chesnokov on the bench because we are trying to get a little mini pre-season into him, just to get him up to speed. In that wide-right position, we need to try and be more effective there. Harry was the right one today, as he was in the first game here when we won, playing in front of Oisin. But it was the right time for Sabah to come on and help us get a draw. I’m pleased with the impact he had.”
Asked how close Kerjota is to starting games for Hearts, McInnes stated that the Albanian is still learning about some off-the-ball responsibilities. “We just need to make sure he’s a wee bit more responsible - that's not a criticism - but also understanding his role when we don’t have the ball,” he commented. “We’ve got loads of games between now and the end of the season that we’re hoping Sabah can be ready for. He’s a dream if a boy, he works hard and there are no issues whatsoever with him.”
Mato is scheduled to land in Scotland this week and his UK immigration papers can then be finalised. There is hope that he could be involved at Tannadice but the timescale for everything to be processed on time is tight. The Ugandan internationalist is a goalscoring wide player who will add pace and a direct approach from the left flank.
Hearts management will face another key decision against United when they decide who plays in goal. McInnes detailed his thinking for the Celtic match. “I watched both keepers closely last week. It’s something I was quite relaxed about. Obviously, I’m going to disappoint one of them, that’s just the way it is. Whatever way I landed, I would have been happy. Just because Craig played on Sunday doesn’t mean to say anything about Alex. I just felt, in the context of the week - losing Cammy Devlin, Lawrence Shankland and Beni Baningime, who are big players - I leaned towards that influence and experience.
“Alex has experience too, but Craig has played a hundred of those games and I felt we maybe needed a wee bit more of that in the dressing room. It was a flick of a coin in terms of ability. It was more gut feeling. Watching training all week, I felt Craig sniffed it. Both lads trained well. Whatever way I landed, I was going to disappoint somebody.”
Like Kerjota, Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee also enjoyed a strong display as a substitute at the weekend after a month out injured. “The medical team told us the best we could maybe get from him was the fourth training session of the week, which was Friday. They knew he couldn’t start the game,” revealed McInnes. “He came through Friday and Saturday, and I spoke to Oisin after the Saturday session. He said he thought he could give us 30 minutes, maybe 45, so it was great to have him back.
“It's great to have Ageu back on the bench as well. Blair Spittal came on nearly blew the roof off the place with the run and the shot off the bar. I also thought Marc Leonard was good. I thought he gave us that first pass from a centre-midfield player who connects the game. It’s great to have these options. Also, fair play to big Tomas Magnusson. At the start of the week he was a real doubt, but he never ruled himself out for the whole week.”
Winger Alexandros Kyziridis had scoring opportunities in both halves against Celtic without finding the net. McInnes praised his attitude and desire to constantly run at opponents. “You know something? They doubled up on him,” said the manager. “You could see they had learned from the last time we played them at Tynecastle. He terrorised the Celtic back line that day. Credit to Celtic, they doubled up with Yang going back with him. It wasn’t easy for Kyzi. He had to work for everything he got and he made some chances.
“He’s a determined wee player, you know what I mean? He kept himself in there. He had good opportunities. He’ll be disappointed he hasn't taken them but I liked his attitude on the day, how lively and upbeat he was. And of course, big moments. He wins the game if he takes one of his chances, but I thought his performance was good.”