Hearts: Stephen Elliott has a clear goal at Tynecastle

The words of Stephen Elliott will be sweet music to Hearts supporters' ears. No pretentions, just a straightforward declaration of intent from an ambitious young Irishman looking to reinvent himself at Tynecastle.

Elliott could start tomorrow's SPL encounter with St Johnstone after completing a free transfer from Preston North End. His prospective partner in crime, Kevin Kyle, may have to settle for a substitute's role as the new season begins with cautious optimism in Gorgie.

After enduring Christian Nade, David Witteveen, Mauricio Pinilla and Ricardas Beniusis in recent seasons, those of a maroon persuasion will be exhilarated if Elliott can walk the walk as well as he talks the talk.

Strikers worthy of the name have been conspicuously absent at Hearts for quite some time, something the 26-year-old is acutely aware of. Goals, as Elliott says, are a forward's currency and anyone who manages even double figures with Hearts this season is likely to attract hero worship given the performances of their recent predecessors.

Public interest will be intense, but, with nine Republic of Ireland caps and an impressive scoring record with Sunderland in both the English Premier League and Championship, this new recruit at least has form.

He may also feel he has a point to prove after being marginalised at Preston, where manager Darren Ferguson ordered him to train with the reserves.

"I had a season left on my contract at Preston but I wanted to get away from there and play some football," explained Elliott. "I don't know what happened there exactly. In my opinion, I don't think I was given a fair run of games in the team. I was training with the reserves before I came up here. That happens at a lot of clubs.

If you aren't in the manager's plans, you kind of get pushed aside. You'd never wish that upon anybody as a footballer. You get a bit disillusioned when you aren't involved so you just need to stay mentally strong and keep yourself physically right. All you can do is get on with it and try to keep yourself ticking over. You know there's probably a move round the corner somewhere. But that's history now and I'm just looking to a good future with Hearts. I'm fit for selection tomorrow. I probably haven't played as many games pre-season as I would have liked. If the manager feels the need to pick me then I'll be okay."

Elliott's honourable nature is conveyed not only through the hushed Irish tones, but also by his actions of the past week. The option to stay at Preston and collect a weekly wage of 6500 would doubtless have appealed to many of his contemporaries. However, he would never have been contented by second-string football. Despite providing for four children after his wife gave birth to a baby daughter on Tuesday, he opted for a reduced wage at Hearts and the opportunity to rejuvenate himself.

"Anybody who knows me would realise I really enjoy playing the game," he continued. "Financial things are another matter which take care of themselves off the field. Once I got to a situation where we reached an agreement financially, I was just looking forward to the football.

"I spoke with everybody, mainly my family and friends. They're the ones I listen to the most because they're the ones the move will affect. When you're moving clubs it's good to get it done sooner rather than later. Some circumstances can't be helped but I'm happy I'm here for the first game and I'm looking forward to it.

"I know a few of the Irish boys playing the SPL. I know Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller across the road (at Hibernian] and from playing in the Irish teams over the years. They've said good things about the league, it's a good, competitive league. Robbie Keane came up to Celtic last season and did well, that didn't surprise me one bit. Robbie's a world-class player who would do well anywhere.

"Obviously, it's been a big week for me with signing up here and then the birth of my little girl. I just wanted to get everything sorted on the football front because, when that's sorted, you have a happier family life.

"We knew the birth was probably bound to happen when we found out about Hearts' interest. We had an idea it would go through and coincide with the birth so we were lucky enough to get everything sorted so I could be there for the birth.

"My family are based in Lytham St Anne's at the moment. It's always difficult when you have to move house with young children, but when you play football that's part and parcel of the game."

Elliott's move was brokered to some extent by Kyle. The pair have stayed in touch since playing together for Sunderland and the Scotland striker was one of many who supplied Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager, with a glowing recommendation.

"I spoke with Kevin and he said the Hearts manager was a really good man to work for," said Elliott. "I knew about Hearts being a pretty big club in Scotland, he just drilled that fact home to me. He said the gaffer is a good, honest manager and if you work hard and do well for him then you'll be rewarded. I'm looking forward to working under him.

"It's a new challenge to play football for a good club and get a regular run of games. If you're doing well at club level and scoring goals as a striker, you might be looked at by the international set-up. I'll just concentrate on playing for Hearts and if anyone wants to come over from the Irish FA, they'll come."

Should Elliott hit the goal trail, Irish scouts could have trouble getting tickets due to Jambos clamouring to see a genuine striker at work.