Source: FOOTYMAD
Hearts hope to be racing to a win tonight
Jamie MacDonald wants to come back from the seaside with a tcket to the quarter finals as a souvenir. Jamie MacDonald aims to finally assume the mantle of number one after the arrival of Paulo Sergio coincided with injury to Marian Kello who remains out with a shoulder injury as Hearts travel to Ayr in the Scottish Communities League Cup. MacDonald stepped in to help Hearts to a 2-0 win over Hibs after Kello was injured in the Edinburgh derby and kept another clean sheet as St Mirren met the same fate on Saturday. The 'keeper's slip handed Inverness the lead in their 1-1 draw in the Highlands but that is the only goal he has conceded in four games, having also played in the goalless Europa League clash at Tottenham. MacDonald has only made 28 appearances since signing professional forms in 2003, although he has played more first-team games in two loan spells with Queen of the South. So he feels now is the perfect opportunity to stake his claim as Sergio shapes his new-look Hearts team. He said: "It's been good to get back in the team and playing again. It's something you crave when you're not playing. It's been good apart from the goal at Inverness, but things like that happen. I look at it as a chance to stake a claim. It's a new manager and a new beginning for everybody. If I don't make any more mistakes and keep more clean sheets, there is a good chance I can stay in. I don't know how long Marian is going to be out for but it looks like a few more weeks anyway. So if I keep clean sheets, there is a good chance I can stay in for the season.'' MacDonald is also competing against Hungarian Janos Balogh, who has recovered from an early-season injury. He said: "I have been here almost 10 years. It has been very difficult but it has also been great for me because the quality of goalkeepers I have worked with over the years has been great. When I first came here, Antti Niemi was still here. I have worked with Roddy Mackenzie and Craig Gordon so it is good to work with those players. For the last three years, it has been a bit mix and match with me, Janos and Marian, for the first couple anyway. Marian really cemented his place as number one for the last year and a half, his performances have been different class. But now there could be a chance for me, and Janos as well, we will always keep pushing each other.'' Hearts have lost in the League Cup to Airdrie and Falkirk in recent seasons so MacDonald is aware of the threat posed by Ayr, who have knocked Hibs and Inverness out of cup competitions in 2011. He went on: "Ayr have been a bit hit-and-miss in the league but they are a good team. It's always difficult going to Somerset Park, I played there with Queens.'' Ayr midfielder Ross Robertson is an injury doubt for his side's home tie with Hearts. United are chasing for their second Premier League scalp at their 101-year-old Somerset Park ground in this season's competition following a 1-0 win over Inverness in the previous round. But they will do so without defender Stuart Duff, who has not yet agreed a permanent deal following his three-game trial with the club. Manager Brian Reid said: "Maybe some of their foreign players will get a bit of a shock at our place, especially if we can get the fans bouncing. We're making a habit of beating SPL sides in cup ties, but that does not make this game any easier.''
