HEARTS' latest recruit, Darren Jackson, last night faced up to the challenge of winning over the Tynecastle faithful who remember him in the colours of their deadliest rivals.

During his five seasons with Hibernian, Jackson was one of the players Hearts supporters loved to hate. Now, after his #450,000 move from Celtic, where he spent nearly two seasons after moving there from Easter Road, the 32-year-old realises that, initially, things will not be easy for him.

He said an early goal against Kilmarnock in his first-team debut a week on Saturday will certainly help and, if he succeeds in helping Jim Jefferies' side escape relegation, any lingering animosity against him will be swept away.

At a press conference at Tynecastle yesterday, Jefferies said he had signed Jackson, who is likely to play in midfield, on a two-and-a-half year contract, with another year option, because of the ''dig'' he would give to the team. He also called on the supporters to forget about his time with Hibs and get behind the player and the team as they battled relegation.

Jefferies also revealed that he hoped to have two other players at the club, one is expected to be Kevin James of Falkirk, by the transfer deadline next week and they certainly would not be from abroad.

Jefferies said he had been offered plenty of overseas players, but because of their plight he preferred to buy British as they had more stomach for the relegation fight.

From his point of view, Jackson made it clear he had always had close family ties with Hearts dating back to the time he was a mascot at Tynecastle when he was 10 years old and he was led out before a game against Alloa by the Hearts captain at the time, Jim Jefferies. His father, Adam, is a lifelong Hearts supporter and was involved in coaching youngsters at Tynecastle.

The player said he had no regrets about moving from Celtic, where he won a championship medal last season, as he was desperate to start playing first-team football again.

Jackson is the Tynecastle club's third largest cash signing behind Derek Ferguson, who they bought from Sunderland for #750,000, and John Robertson, who came back to Hearts after a spell at Newcastle for #600,000.

Club chief executive Chris Robinson said that #300,000 would be paid to Celtic with the remaining #150,000 to be handed over once Jackson had played an agreed number of games for Hearts.

It is clear there will be a lot of responsibility on Jackson's shoulders as Jefferies will expect him to be a leader on the park. With 23-year-old Jim Hamilton moving to Aberdeen Jackson will be expected to start scoring goals as well.

However, Jefferies denied that Jackson was a straight replacement for Hamilton and said selling a young striker to help finance the purchase of someone nine years older had not been a problem for him.

''Darren has given 100 per cent wherever he has been,'' said Jefferies. ''He is a winner. Darren has a bit of fight in his belly and that's what we need at the moment.

qReading's Tommy Burns finally got his man last night when he landed former Scotland Under-21 winger Andy McLaren, who he had tried to sign when manager at Celtic, in a deal that could be worth #150,000 to Dundee United subject to appearances.

United midfielder Lars Zetterlund, who is out of contract in the summer, looks set to follow McLaren out of the exit door at Tannadice. The player, who has not been part of Sturrock's plans recently, is understood to be on the point of rejoining Swedish club Orebro for a nominal fee.

Definitely exiting the Premier League is 34-year-old former Ipswich and Derby defender Dave Linighan, who has been given a free transfer by Dunfermline Athletic.

Relegation-threatened first division side Hamilton last night bolstered their survival bid by signing defender Neil Oliver on a free transfer from Falkirk.

Meanwhile, the most astonishing move prior to yesterday's English transfer deadline was the attempt by Tottenham Hotspur to re-sign former hero Richard Gough. Manager George Graham wanted to take the Scot, who will be 37 next week, back to White Hart Lane from Nottingham Forest, but red tape prevented the former Rangers player moving so soon after his departure on loan from America's Major Soccer League.

Former Scotland colleague Scot Gemmill, meanwhile, completed a #200,000 move from Nottingham Forest to join his hero, Walter Smith, at Everton. Smith had switched his attentions to Gemmill after changing his mind on a proposed loan move for Celtic star Morten Wieghorst.

Gemmill said: ''Walter is a great hero of mine having been manager of Rangers and I'm delighted to sign for him.''

Former Morton striker Derek Lilley joined English First Division side Bury on loan from Leeds until the end of the season.

Danish international striker Mikkel Beck made a surprise move to Derby County for #500,000 from Middlesbrough, where his first-team chances were becoming limited.

Sheffield Wednesday, who this week also signed Philip Scott from St Johnstone, shelled out #950,000 for York's England Under-20 striker Richard Cresswell.

Home is where the heart is: Darren Jackson and Jim Jefferies have a chat at Tynecastle yesterday.Picture: JAMES GALLOWAY