VLADIMIR ROMANOV has managed one solitary appearance at Tynecastle since the turn of the year. Likewise Juho Makela. In fact, the Finnish striker has graced the hallowed ground just once more than his Russian paymaster all season, a perfect indictment of his restricted first-team opportunities.
With Hearts coaching staff privately confessing doubts over his capabilities, Makela is resolved to prove them wrong. Last week he returned to the comparative backwaters of Finland's Veikkausliiga on a three-month loan with HJK Helsinki, after which
he intends to hit the ground running at Hearts' pre-season training camp in Germany.
Far from losing conviction, the 24-year-old is still driven to succeed in Edinburgh. Supporters have criticised Romanov for a lack of appearances in Scotland this season, but the majority shareholder at least made the choice to stay away by himself. Makela couldn't.
His statistics confirm an all-too-familiar pattern: when matchday squads are announced at Riccarton each week, he can count on his name being off the list.
Two years and three months with Hearts has brought just 19 first-team outings for a player who cost the club £500,000. These include three starts in which he has scored four goals, a hint of the potential which as yet remains unfulfilled. In a revealing Evening News interview, Makela explained his emotions. "I have been frustrated because at times the team has not played well and has been lacking a goalscorer or other qualities that I have. I know I could help the team, but I haven't been given the chance. That has been frustrating. I've been waiting a long time," he said.
"I don't think I played too bad against St Mirren in the game before I left. It was my first match for six months because I was not in favour. I want to make sure I make an impact with Hearts next season by coming back ready with good confidence and fitness."
Makela's situation might be considered unfair, particularly in light of his goalscoring prowess when starting games for Hearts. "I'll leave people to make their own conclusions about that," he added. "I didn't play for six months, that's not what you would think should happen. I still want to play for Hearts."
His can also point to 33 goals in 41 games for HJK before defecting to Scotland in January 2006. Re-enacting a portion of that prosperity was uppermost in the player's mind when agreeing the temporary move back home last week. Makela's £4000-a-week, three-and-a-half-year Hearts contract expires next summer, denoting next season as one of the most important of his career.
"The purpose is to play first-team football with HJK, get my self-confidence back and score goals. I feel really good, we have a lot of games coming up and I know I'll be playing. It's a good challenge for me," he said.
"It's not easy to come back – everybody has high expectations. There is always pressure. Everybody asked me when I came back if I felt pressure because people are expecting a lot from me. Pressure makes you work hard and I like that situation. It makes me feel like I'm alive.
"My contract continues with Hearts. Nothing has been agreed except that I am here until the pre-season camp in Germany. That was the purpose, that I rejoin the squad for pre-season training and that's my intention. I've told people here it's not time to discuss what happens in three months because I'm only just back in Finland.
"Everybody has said I have a point to prove, but I have always proved I can play in Scotland when given the chance. For my physical condition, I need to play. I haven't been playing a lot in recent seasons and I really need competitive football and some goals. I need to be confident, match fit and sharp to be fully ready for next season."
The Evening News revealed last week that HJK coach Antti Muurinen hopes to entice Makela back to Finland permanently. Perhaps with this in mind, the striker was handed the No.9 shirt for the new campaign and repaid some of the faith with a debut goal in Monday's season-opening victory over IFK Mariehamn.
"It's important to get a good start, especially with the loan deal being quite short," he said. "I knew I had to be ready from the beginning. I've started well and a goal in the first match helps a lot. I only trained twice with the team before the match, but the result and scoring a goal has made me really happy."
A player who feeds on goals, Makela felt somewhat malnourished at Hearts. The question is, will he be starved of action when he returns?
The full article contains 813 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
