Marian Kello did not know whether he was coming or going earlier this summer - but the Slovakian is now determined to make the Hearts goalkeeper's jersey his own.
Kello spent last season on loan at Tynecastle from perennial feeder club FBK Kaunas and had been expected to return to Lithuania. But the 26-year-old did enough during the Clydesdale Bank Premier League run-in to earn a one-year deal with the Jambos and is now looking forward to continuing his rivalry with Janos Balogh.
Kello, who kept four clean sheets in the final six games of last season to help Hearts finish third, knows he must impress boss Csaba Laszlo to achieve his aims. "It's up to the manager," Kello said. "Nobody (else) can say, 'You are here and you are number one'."
Prior to his recall, Kello spent six months kicking his heels while Balogh took a grip on the number one jersey.
He may have to bide his time again after Laszlo hinted Balogh would be given the nod in Monday night's opening SPL game of the season at Dundee United.
Balogh saved a penalty on his last visit to Tannadice, and when asked who held the edge, Laszlo said: "Psychologically, maybe Balogh. (In the) last game in Dundee he saved a penalty.
