ROBERTO LANDI is set to hand on-loan Hearts striker Calum Elliot his Livingston debut tomorrow, insisting the under-used youngster can replace nine-goal hitman Leigh Griffiths.
Elliot's last game for Hearts was back in May against Falkirk and he has had little game time since, his two recent appearances for the Scotland under-21s the only meaningful competitive matches he has been deployed in.
Griffiths, meanwhile, has h
ogged the headlines with a series of blistering displays which have helped fire the Lions to the top of the First Division. However, he suffered a freak knee injury while running for a bus last week and is out for five weeks after surgery.
Landi is hoping to blood Elliot against Airdrie Utd at home tomorrow as the Lions look to extend their winning run in the league to five games. He said: "Calum is a different style of player to Leigh, they are different characters, but I know his qualities. He has been away with Scotland under-21s and I need to assess his fitness.
"If he plays, it does not mean our style will change, but a new player brings new things to the team. We still have Cuenca who has been playing very well." Cuenca, the French striker, has caught the eye, although not the same headlines as Griffiths, with his intelligent play and willingness to step from the frontline, slip deeper and draw defenders away from his fellow striker. And Landi believes Cuenca can now provide Elliot with enough chances to not only maintain the momentum at Almondvale, but perhaps reignite his faltering Hearts career.
Landi added: "The team is now a perfect machine because the players know what I want, they know my footballing philosophy and how I want to play. Elliot and Griffiths are different but they are both strikers. Cuenca is very clever and can provide chances."
What hasn't gone unnoticed is the belief currently surging through Landi's squad and the Italian said: "They have been quick to learn and understand we sometimes need to change the tactics, but not the mentality of the play, not the heart of the players. That is essential.
"It is necessary to study every game, every opponent and look at the quality. We have an advantage because we are at home and at the top of the league, but we know it will be very difficult. Airdrie are a very strong team, very good attacking."
The full article contains 415 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
