Niko Happy With New Role + Lucas' Future With Liverpool

Hello everyone! Happy St. Patrick's Day! I was going to pull off the amazing and turn Patrick Helmes into a Irish man for the day, but my stupid Photoshop isn't working, so later... Also, writing in green today, you don't like it, tough!

In the last few games the Pompey interim manager has placed the Croatian international in the hole behind the striker in a 4-5-1 formation.

The 24-year-old has often been used as a winger during his two and a half years at Fratton Park but a mixture of injuries and loss of form has seen the former Dinamo Zagreb star struggle this season as the team battle it out at the bottom.

But Hart is confident Kranjcar can rediscover his top form and play an instrumental part in helping the club survive the drop.

"Niko looks tremendous at the moment, I thought he ran the show on Saturday. The quality on the ball and in those little holes was immense," he told The News. "We always knew the boy could play and this is his favourite position. Really if you look at it, it's a 4-3-3 system with a slightly defensive edge.We have concentrated on the defensive side of it, but knowing he can express himself given time and space. It's possible we may change the system depending on personnel and opposition, but Niko's certainly looked a very good player there.He's enjoying the freedom but he is doing a shift the other way as well. In that hole is where he likes playing. It fits into our strategy and it's been good for everybody. We've not been short of creativity. We are banging on about defensive responsibility but we can play as well and Niko can help us do that."

The former Nottingham Forest boss and his assistant Brian Kidd have guided the team to just one defeat - against Chelsea - in the four games since they took over, halting a run of three straight league defeats in the process.

Hart puts it down to simply playing players in their favourite roles, with only David Nugent playing out of position on the right hand side.

"We have tried to put round pegs in round holes. There are 10 people playing in their right positions and only one, David, has been slightly out of position." he added."Even then he has been doing a great job."

Lucas Puts Rumors to Rest

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has dismissed talk that he was considering his future at the club.

Reports from his native Brazil suggested Lucas could seek a move away from Liverpool if he is not playing on a regular basis at Anfield.

However, the Brazilian international has moved to clear up the rumours and insists he is happy at Liverpool.

"I've got three more years to go on my contract and I'm really happy here," Lucas told the club's official website. "My girlfriend is happy in Liverpool and everybody at the club is supporting me. I have never thought about leaving."

Lucas is determined to prove himself at Anfield after coming under fire from some fans this season.

The 22-year-old enjoyed arguably his best performance of the season as he replaced Xabi Alonso in midfield for Saturday's 4-1 success over Manchester United.

Lucas believes he is improving as a player and he is hoping to earn the trust of every Liverpool fan by establishing himself as a key player in Rafa Benitez's side.

"I think I'm improving and I have more confidence every day," added Lucas. "The team is playing well too, which also helps. Everyone is on fire - all these things help me. I don't think about what some of the people say. I have to concentrate on the team. Rafa always gives me a lot of confidence. I know some people don't trust me yet but I will try to show them my quality, and I think I've now started doing that. When you have games in a row you get more confidence. You get some rhythm. It is more difficult when you play just one or two games a month but I have to work hard, try to improve every day and try to get to my best level."