Last Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:19
Jim Jefferies insists he will not play Jose Goncalves against Celtic on Wednesday because he feels the defender wants to leave.
Hearts are struggling for fully-fit defenders for the game against the Bhoys but Jefferies is loathed to utilise Goncalves because he says the Portuguese ace is not committed to the club.
The Hearts boss revealed he has had several meetings with the player, who is out of contract in the summer, but Goncalves has refused to sign despite being offered a "fantastic offer".
"Am I better to go for a player who wants to play for the club or somebody who convinces me that he doesn't want to be here?" said an unhappy Jefferies.
"I've seen Jose Goncalves play and he's a good young player.
"I've had four meetings in two days and in those four meetings I'm sitting talking to Jose looking at him, listening to him, getting the vibes that for some reason before I came here, he refused the contract.
"Why does he not want stay at the club? Because he's been made a great, great offer to stay at this football club. If he doesn't want to do that, it tells you he doesn't want to play."
He added: "I saw some paper reports say he'd been offered less - it's absolute nonsense.
"He has been made one fantastic offer to stay at this club, let me tell you that."