Boyd anxious to end his Hearts hoodoo

(AP)

Kris Boyd will be even hungrier than usual for goals when Rangers face Hearts at Tynecastle this weekend. The striker may be one of the most prolific goalscorers in the Scottish Premier League but he admits the Gorgie ground has not been a happy hunting ground so far. He has found the back of the net only once at the Edinburgh venue – almost seven years ago in a 2-2 draw when he was playing for Kilmarnock.

Boyd is now looking to make amends when the Scottish champions travel to Hearts on Sunday. "I scored a goal for Kilmarnock at Hearts a few years ago but I've not managed to do that with Rangers so far," he said.

"Hopefully, if I get playing this weekend, I'll have an opportunity or two to change that. I certainly feel I can rectify things. You never look too much into who you do well against or who you don't quite make your mark against because these things happen in football all the time.

"I'm the type who just goes into every game looking to score. It doesn't matter who we are playing or where. I'm sure we'll get chances when we go to Tynecastle so if I'm involved, hopefully I can get on the end of some and find the net."

However, Boyd points out that Rangers as a whole need to improve their record against Hearts. And he believes signs of improvement must be evident this weekend if Walter Smith's team hope to retain their crown.

"It's not just a personal thing," he said. "Even as a club there are places where we'll maybe struggle. It has been a bit like that at Pittodrie recently and Tynecastle's another place where we've not really hit the heights.

"I can remember a night when we went there a couple of seasons ago and won 4-0 with some really good football. Apart from that, we've not been as good as we could have been and we've dropped points here and there.

"Hearts have shown themselves to be very capable in the past. They're a side that makes things difficult for you and we know what we'll be getting from them on Sunday."

Meanwhile, Andrius Velicka could be set for a quicker than anticipated return to Rangers. The Bristol City manager, Gary Johnson, fears the on-loan striker is set for a long spell on the sidelines as he awaits the results of a scan on a knee injury.