Rising Hearts star Arvydas Novikovas has signed a new three-year deal with the club.

The new contract sees the Lithuanian teenager, who made his first team debut in the final game of last season against Celtic at Parkhead, commit his future to Tynecastle until the summer of 2013.

Arvydas turned down the chance to join Portuguese giants Benfica to sign for Hearts in 2008 from FK Vilnius. He has featured regularly in Jim Jefferies' squad since his return to Gorgie, earning four starts in succession in victories over Falkirk, Hamilton and Aberdeen as well as the loss to Dundee United at Tannadice in March.

JJ has high hopes for the 19-year-old, who was capped at U21 level for his country at the age of 16 and has been named in the senior Lithuania squad for the friendly against Ukraine later this month.

"We are delighted Arvydas has committed himself to the club for the next few years," the manager told Hearts News Today.

"We have been impressed with him since we came into the club.

"He is still young but he had a taste of the first team earlier this season when we had a lot of injuries.

"There are things for him to work on and he needs to build up his strength for the rigours of the SPL but ability-wise he is a gifted young player.

"He is naturally left-sided and is very good at delivering balls from free-kicks and corners and is a player who will be pushing for more starts next season."

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On Hearts.TV today, the best of the action from last night's clash with Dundee United, plus all the exclusive post-match reaction.