HEART of Midlothian used this as an exercise to test a number of trialists but it was Middlesbrough's big summer buy Aiyegbeni Yakubu who grabbed the chance to impress.

Just after the hour mark the £7.5m capture from Portsmouth conjured up a moment of magic that highlighted his talent before he got his Boro career off to the perfect of starts with a cool penalty.

Yakubu controlled a chip into the box from George Boateng with his chest before firing a right-foot volley at goal, only for goalkeeper Craig Gordon to somehow turn it over.

Moments later, after a spot-kick was awarded for a Paul Hartley foul on Gaizka Mendieta, Yakubu cheekily chipped in the opening goal from the penalty spot with relative ease.

Nothing else had really gone for the powerful Nigerian during an otherwise competitive night at Tynecastle, but in those 14 second-half minutes there was enough to suggest there is a lot more to come.

Yakubu's first appearance in a Boro shirt was alongside Mark Viduka in attack and although the pairing showed plenty signs of being in its infancy, the injury troubled latter did manage to come through an hour unscathed.

There was also a full 90 minutes from Mendieta for manager Steve McClaren to be relieved about, having been without the former Lazio man for the past ten months through injury.

If McClaren's aim was to give his first team an early test of competitive action then his decision to take them north of the border to Edinburgh was justified.

By way of a good gesture to the Tyncastle supporters, club owner Vladimir Romanov - seen as a poor man's Roman Abramovich in these parts - allowed them free tickets for a meaningless friendly.

That encouraged Hearts' followers to turn out in their droves in the hope of witnessing an England-Scotland contest take place.

It may have been the perfect home start for new manager George Burley but it was also just what McClaren needed to ensure his players took the game seriously.

The atmosphere brought out a few nerves in Yakubu's early play and his first touch let him down on a couple of occasions as the ball dropped to his left foot.

Nevertheless, this was the 22-year-old's first appearance in a Boro shirt and there were signs his confidence was returning as the game developed.

He had already made one foray forward before he combined exceptionally with Mendieta for the game's first great chance.

The Spanish midfielder, playing his first match since rupturing a cruciate knee ligament against Portsmouth last October, turned defence into attack by playing a neat one-two with Yakubu.

And, with the goal just six yards in front of him, the African+ forward's downward header bounced just wide of the post after meeting Mendieta's precise cross on 14 minutes.

Ugo Ehiogu also went close moments later but saw his right-foot drive on the turn well saved by Gordon, who had Andy Webster to blame for a lack of concentration in the penalty area.

But if Boro thought this was going to be an easy ride they were very much mistaken.

Hearts, with five starting trialists in their ranks, went close a couple of times to beating stand-in keeper Brad Jones.

Roman Bednar and Julien Brellier, two of those trying to impress, had a header drop narrowly wide and a dipping volley turned over by Jones respectively, as the English team's goal stayed intact.

Without Stewart Downing through injury and following the departure of Bolo Zenden on a free transfer, Boro's options on the left wing are at a low.

But teenager Adam Johnson, hailed as the next big thing to come out of Teesside, showed last night that he has the potential to become a star in that position in the not too distant future.

After the restart Franck Queudrue should have done better with a close-range header, while Yakubu had another fantastic chance to open the scoring.

The former Pompey man made a chance out of nothing but his volley was expertly tipped over for a corner by Gordon.

That clearly lifted Yakubu's spirits and he was first to the ball when the penalty was awarded for Paul Hartley's foul on Mendieta inside the area, making no mistake from the spot.

Hearts defender Webster nodded in at the back post to equalise four minutes later but McClaren won't care too much.

This was more about Yakubu hitting the ground running and he did.

Boro: Jones; Parnaby, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue; Mendieta, Parlour, Boateng, Johnson (Liddle 74); Viduka (Kennedy 62), Yakubu. Subs (not used): Knight, Clough, Burgess.

* Boro are still waiting to hear whether new signing Emanuel Pogatetz's appeal to the Football Union of Russia to have a six-month ban overturned has been successful.

The hearing is thought to have taken place but the verdict has not reached the club yet.

Pogatetz was at Rockliffe Park yesterday having already put his case forward.

A decision should be announced today.

Result: Hearts 1 Middlesbrough 1.

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