FOUNDATION OF HEARTS
KILMARNOCK v HEARTS Cathro: We’ll build a side worthy of our new stand Sitting out hurt Kiltie more than his injury
IaN CaTHrO watched the skeleton of Tynecastle’s new main stand take shape this week – then vowed to build a team worthy of such a magnificent stadium.
The erection of the hulking metal framework was a huge milestone in the club’s journey back from administration four years ago.
Now the fans, not to mention the manager, can see real signs of progress and Cathro intends to show the same development on the pitch as off it.
While laying foundations for long-term success is uppermost in the minds of Cathro and his director of football Craig Levein, he is aware of the short-term fires he must fight to keep supporters onside.
That’s a case he can only make with results so tonight he’ll take his side to Kilmarnock eager to record a second win on the spin.
Cathro said: “It’s great to see the stand starting to take shape now, it makes it feel a bit more real and it’s exciting to see.
“It’s inspiring to me building a squad. That’s one of the main reasons this was the right step for me to take – because of the ambition, the investment in the infrastructure and the desire for this club to grow.
“Right now we’re in a situation where we’re not doing that in terms of results but that is something that is addressed in the short term while working on all the other aspects we can to ensure we are ready for the next step.
“The short-termism doesn’t frustrate me, it’s part of the reality of the game. It’s hard to ask people to look three, six, GREG KILTIE is enjoying match days at Kilmarnock again after enduring six long months of helplessness through injury.
It was thought the 20-year-old attacker would miss the rest of the season after surgery on a knee tendon in October.
However, he returned for the Premiership match against Caley Thistle at the beginning of the month then played against Rangers before sitting out the trip to Celtic at the weekend.
Kiltie hopes to be back for tonight’s visit of Hearts to nine months down the line when today is always bigger in your mind than tomorrow.
“It’s normal, I understand it but the challenge is being able to do both.
“We also have to work on things to let us make progress and push on domestically – then look at a point where we can become a club worthy of playing in the Europa League.”
Cathro was pleased to see the post-split fixture list gave Hearts their remaining two home games in the first two weeks – meaning their last game in the old stadium will be against Aberdeen on May 7.
That will allow the next stage of construction – demolition of the main stand – to help them hit the September 9 deadline for next season’s first home fixture.
If the stand isn’t ready there is a contingency plan to use Murrayfield for home games but by then Cathro says they will be itching to get into their new Rugby Park and is thankful that a “frustrating” time on the sidelines is over.
He said: “It was not the season I wanted but it is a positive to be back on the pitch.
“It was very difficult, trying to get your head round the fact that you are not able to play with the boys for six months is not ideal to say the least.
“It was never nice on match day, coming in to watch the boys.
“Of course you can go in the dressing room and wish them all the best but not being on the home after playing the first four games of the new season away.
Meanwhile, Esmael Goncalves says he already feels part of the Hearts family, as an honorary member of assistant manager Austin MacPhee’s brood.
The striker says he owes a debt to MacPhee for bringing him to Scotland with St Mirren in 2013 – and helping him tame his wild child ways.
MacPhee knew his reputation and man-marked him at Paisley to keep him out of bother. So much so that rather than leave him alone in a hotel the night before Saints’ League Cup semifinal won over Celtic he took him along to his parents’ silver wedding party.
Goncalves said: “I went to the party and everyone was so welcoming. They made me feel like part of the family.
“Austin was a big influence on me. I don’t go out at all now, I don’t feel the need to go out and drink any more.” pitch to be able to help them is honestly the worst thing ever.
“But there was the break in January and I could see the end. I started to run and was thinking I could play before the end of the season so that helped a lot.
“I couldn’t ask for a better rehab. I would love to play every game now but I’ve been out for six months so it is going to be hard to get my body back into it.
“I just look to play as many games as possible, take care of myself and look to next season.”
Killie are in seventh, nine points ahead of bottom side Inverness with six fixtures remaining but Kiltie is not taking safety for granted.
He said: “You are never safe until you are mathematically but a victory would be a step in the right direction.
“Our results have been pretty positive. Our aim is always top six. A lot of people wrote us off at the beginning of the season but that was always our aim.
“It is a pity we couldn’t make it and we now need to focus on finishing seventh.”