Driver hails boss Laszlo's impact

Laszlo has enjoyed an excellent first season in Scottish football

Hearts winger Andrew Driver thinks the positive atmosphere created by manager Csaba Laszlo can inspire further improvement at Tynecastle.

"He gives a certain buzz around training where everyone is planning to learn," said the 22-year-old.

"When you come into training happy, you are going to learn more.

"He has a good way with individual players of taking you aside and telling you what he thinks you need to do better and basically motivating you."

Laszlo is poised to lead Hearts back into Europe, with his third-placed side five points clear of Aberdeen and Dundee United going into Saturday's visit to Falkirk.

The Hungarian has transformed a team who finished eighth last season, their lowest placing for a quarter of a century.

"The season we've had this year is chalk and cheese from last year," added Driver, who has attracted interest from a number of English clubs.

"Last year everyone was down, there was talk of people never coming back to Tynecastle, it was the worst team they had seen in years.

"Now we've regained a bit of pride. We've worked hard and done ourselves a bit more justice this season.

Driver has thrived under the guidance of Laszlo

"You saw at the weekend against Celtic, we fought evenly with them and we could easily have beaten them. It was a very good draw but we have come on leaps and bounds."

Former Hearts striker Scott Crabbe has also been impressed by Laszlo's first season in Scotland.

"If he doesn't win manager of the year, I'll be really surprised," said the 40-year-old, who spent the first six years of his long career at Tynecastle.

"If you look at the players he has coached this year, it's basically the same personnel as last season, and they were really poor last season. Ask any Hearts supporter, they were poor to watch.

"What he has done with the players has been absolutely fantastic.

"They are hard to beat, defend well and have learned how to dig out wins. That's what you have to do if you want to have a decent season.

"It's not all about flowing football but the last couple of games Hearts have introduced that into their game.

"They have been playing some good stuff. Saturday against Celtic was the best I have seen them play this season."