Exclusive:Sabah Kerjota's chances of starting for Hearts v Rangers

Until now, Derek McInnes has resisted opportunities to name Sabah Kerjota in a Hearts starting line-up. All 18 of the Albanian winger’s appearances in Scotland have been as a substitute. Two assists in last week’s transformational second-half outing against Hibs at Easter Road mean Kerjota’s argument for a place in the team has never been stronger.

Rangers visit Tynecastle Park on Monday for a Premiership title clash which is so Box Office that Michael Buffer would be justified in taking the field before kick-off. League-leaders Hearts are four points ahead of the Ibrox club and know a win will all but kill the opposition’s chances of becoming champions. Rangers have conceded nine goals in their last four matches, evidence of a porous defence vulnerable to attack.

This is where Kerjota could come in. His tantalising wing play has given Hearts supporters glimpses of his potential all season. Creating both goals in the 2-1 win at Easter Road was his most telling contribution to date, yet he hasn’t been entrusted with a place in the starting XI. The 24-year-old was plucked from Serie D, the fourth division in Italy, where he was a key attacking figure wide on the right of a rampant Sambenedettese team. He was a dribbling wizard, running at opponents, crossing and scoring as his side earned promotion.

The requirements of a winger in Scotland are different. Kerjota arrived last July less familiar with the physical demands of needing to track back and match the attacking runs of an opposing full-back. This is one reason he hasn’t been selected by Hearts so far. At Sambenedettese, charging back wasn’t necessary because his team attacked for the vast majority of games. Going forward he can be an asset, as proven at Easter Road, but defensively there is still improvement to come.

That said, it is now very difficult for McInnes to ignore this amiable Albanian. He doesn’t complain at the lack of starting places but introducing him now could give Hearts an advantage in this most intense title race. Rangers habitually play a four-man defence under head coach Danny Rohl. First-choice left-back Tuur Rommens has been injured for almost six weeks and is doubtful for Tynecastle. His deputy is the on-loan Brentford full-back Jayden Meghoma.

Hearts have employed a three-man defensive system in their last two matches. If they do so again on Monday, there would be no place for Kerjota in the team as Jordi Altena would likely retain his place at right wing-back. Should McInnes revert to a back four, Michael Steinwender at right-back would provide the kind of defensive solidity Kerjota needs. He would then have freedom to go at Rangers’ back line.

Kerjota’s dribbling ability and crossing expertise would offer Hearts a different type of threat from the right flank. Other options for the role are Alexandros Kyziridis, the Greek winger whose form has dipped and who prefers the left flank, and Islam Chesnokov, who has yet to properly ignite since his January arrival from Kazakhstan.

McInnes, as expected, is giving nothing away regarding team selection. He spoke to the Edinburgh News about Kerjota, his impact against Hibs, and the player’s impressive impact on proceedings. “I thought Jordi was doing fine in the game at wing-back. I thought we needed one winger,” explained the manager. “We contemplated bringing both Kyzi and Sabah on at half-time, but we still wanted to see what they [Hibs] did first.

“That would have been the right thing to do to play against Hibs in their 4-3-2 shape because we wanted to keep our pace in the back line with Michael and Stu [Findlay] outside Halks [Craig Halkett] in the back three. We made one sub with Sabah and we thought he was the right one. Sabah against a wing-back isn't going to work, it's not. But, when you have an extra man and you are going to have more of the ball, Sabah doing his work in the final third with the confidence and intelligence he's got makes so much sense.

“When Hibs went down to nine men, we were quick to get Spitz [Blair Spittal] and Kyzi on because we needed to stretch the game. We felt we needed good decision-makers on the pitch and we needed technique. Hibs left one striker up so Halks and Stu dealt with him. It was hard for [Landry] Kabore to come off but the reason he started at Easter Road was because we needed people to run the gaps and down in Hibs' spaces. When you watch Hibs, you get a bit of joy with that. Grant Hanley was sent off because Toyosi Olusanya spins down the side of him at Aberdeen. We needed Kabore on the pitch for that reason at that point.

“It was harsh for him to come off but we didn't need that running power and we didn't need the brawn. We needed guile. Michael and Kabo coming off allowed us to get Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland as a pairing up front, plus it allowed us to get two wingers running at the Hibs wing-backs. You would always trust Kingsley and Spitz to make good decisions coming forward from full-back areas but we needed a big moment. Kerjota drives into the box and then Lawrence comes up with a big moment, as he does so often for us. Thank God we've got him. Then it was just about getting another one.

“We wanted Spitz to push into pockets of space from right-back because he is a No.8 or a No.10, ordinarily. He scores that type of goal every day in training. He's got such brilliant technique with his right foot and left. When everybody else was lashing at things and hurrying, maybe making wrong decisions, he comes up with a calm moment. His knee is over the ball, he doesn't slap at it, it's just a measured side-footed finish and we needed it. It's a huge moment for him in his career.”

The relief was palpable at the time after Hibs’ two red cards increased expectations of a Hearts win. McInnes was grateful to begin the post-split fixtures with three points, and for the fact Rangers lost at home to Motherwell the same day. “I thought Hibs was arguably our most challenging post-split fixture for obvious reasons with everything that game entails,” he said. “There is pressure to produce a result in derbies ordinarily, plus we knew the motivation for Hibs as well. If you win the first game, then it certainly helps your cause and it gives you optimism for the challenges ahead. You need to take the good from any derby win.

“The manner in which we won by scoring late again mirrored the two wins against Hibs at Tynecastle. You get the feelgood factor and the elation from that but the next game comes now. Win, lose or draw, we always try to move on pretty quickly and that's no different with the Hibs game but we still feel good about it. Training has been good this week, as you'd expect after winning a derby.”

Emotions always run high in any Hibs-Hearts fixture, but McInnes is confident he and his players celebrated accordingly in front of their fans at full-time. “It was a brilliant moment. It wasn't over the top. Because it's a derby and because of the context of the game, I just felt it was important,” he stressed. “The fans need to know that we are right with them in this. We need the energy and connection from every Hearts supporter to really think we can do this. We spoke to the players after it and it wasn't over-celebrating. We deserved to celebrate in the manner we did, but it's done now. We have another round of fixtures this weekend.”