Skacel Back To Tynecastle?

Rumours are abound that former Hearts favourite Rudi Skacel could be making an appearance at Robbie Neilson’s testimonial match on May 11 at Tynecastle.

Skacel, who is now plying his trade on loan at Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin after an unremarkable spell at Southampton, is a player who probably made as much of an impact in a short space
of time at Hearts as any other that I can remember.

For the first half of the 2005/6 season, this charismatic left-sided midfielder was effectively the club’s talisman, and at one stage scored in something like eight games in a row, which for a player in his position was quite incredible. He also had a great effect on the rest of the side and the fans with his infectious enthusiasm, and as a result those six months were probably as exciting as any I can remember as a Hearts fan.

Sadly things went pear-shaped for Rudi and Hearts in general after the sacking of George Burley, and although he did contribute towards the end of that season at times, he was a pale shadow of the
player he’d been – almost not worth of a jersey if we want to be brutally honest. It was a pity that it worked out that way, but at least Skacel did leave on a high after winning the Scottish Cup final against Gretna (albeit on penalties), a match that saw him scoring his last goal for the club.

It’s yet to be officially confirmed if Rudi will indeed play in the Neilson testimonial, but I think it would be great if he was there. It’s already promising to be an infinitely more entertaining afternoon that what we’ve become accustomed to at Tynecastle this season, with names like Adam, Fulton, Salvatori, Flogel, McPherson and Robertson definitely going to be there. If Skacel adds his name to that impressive list , then it can surely only add to the novelty value of this match, not to mention add a few extra quid to Robbie’s payday! I hope it happens…….