HOME IS WHERE MY HEART IS
After spending all his career in England, Jambos new boy McLaughlin insists...
JON McLAUGHLIN insists he has realised a career dream by coming back home to join Hearts.
The keeper has penned a oneyear deal with the Jambos and will compete with Jack Hamilton for the gloves at Tynecastle.
McLaughlin, 29, was born and raised in Edinburgh but has spent his entire professional career in England – and cannot wait to finally ply his trade in Scotland.
He arrives at Hearts after almost 300 appearances south of the border, starring for Bradford under former Motherwell and Rangers boss Stuart McCall and Burton Albion, where he was the their No.1 in the Championship last term.
McLaughlin said: “It’s fantastic to be back in the city where I was born. It has always been something I’ve wanted to do, to play in the country I’m from.
“I’ve spent all my time in England so it’s nice to be home!
“I started my career at Bradford under McCall, who took me there. I spent six years there, a good way to learn my trade and get experience.
“I had three great years at Burton Albion working under some great managers and had a lot of success there, winning the title and spending a year in the Championship, a fantastic league to test yourself in.
“Now I’m really looking forward to this new challenge in the Premiership and in my home city.”
McLaughlin has lofty aspirations for his season in Gorgie, having endured a fraught – but ultimately successful – battle against the drop with Burton last season.
He said: “You always want to be at clubs where you are competitive and looking to achieve things.
“Last year was still great at Burton, experiencing a league as big as the Championship. But you want to win things, you don’t want to be battling relegation.
“That’s part of what drew me to Hearts, seeing such a strong set-up here and a club moving in the right direction. That is what I want to be a part of.
“Everything – the facilities, the staff and the players – is great.”
Meanwhile, Cole Stockton has revealed he could have been running out at Fir Park most weeks if Motherwell had succeeded in their attempt to sign him this summer. But today the Hearts striker will settle for gracing the pitch on a one-off basis as he strives to establish himself with the club he ended up choosing instead.
The 23-year-old had talks with the Fir Park side about signing from Tranmere but admits the lure of Hearts proved stronger.
But with only one league appearance so far – as a late substitute in the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock – Stockton is desperate to make his mark.
And where better place to start than against the club that wanted him too?
Stockton said: “I did speak to Motherwell during the summer but nothing came of it.
“At the time, I was wanting to stay down in the north west area of England. Then I spoke to (Hearts No.2) Austin MacPhee and thought: ‘I fancy that.’ I couldn’t wait to come up here.
“No disrespect to Motherwell, they are a good footballing team and a big club. But Hearts just drew me in straight away.
“It’s mad how it’s worked out. I just have to enjoy my time up here now and make the most of it. I’m enjoying it here, now it’s about looking to get into the team permanently. As a centreforward, you have to be patient.
“It has been slightly harder because it’s a better standard in this league but that can only benefit me in the long run. I’m patient enough so I’m looking forward to my chance.
“The tempo of the training sessions is quicker and the quality of some of the lads is very good. I feel like I fit in well.”
It has hardly been the ideal atmosphere to settle into a new club with so much upheaval behind the scenes.
Manager Ian Cathro was axed no sooner than Stockton got his feet under the table with caretaker boss Jon Daly stepping up from the Under-20s to state his case to be handed the role permanently.
But Stockton insists this doesn’t compare to the instability he has seen in the past.
He said: “I worked under a few managers at Tranmere when we went through a bad spell so I’m used to it. We had five or six managers over about five years, quite a lot to get settled in with. “But with Jon, Liam Fox and
Austin in
charge at the moment it still feels normal for everyone. And with Jon being a centre-forward, that can only help me.
“He’s approachable, easy to get along with and you can have a laugh with him – although with any manager, you’ll always have that boundary of respect.
“I’ve spoken to people who miss the banter when they’ve stopped playing but Jon still has that. He has respect from the lads but can still have a laugh with us.”
Stockton could do his interim manager a massive favour today if Hearts can beat Well to rack up a third straight game undefeated.
And to score would surely rub Fir Park boss Stephen Robinson’s nose in it – especially as his move to the Jambos came with strong encouragement from a former Well fans’ favourite, fellow Scouser Steve Jennings.
Stockton added: “He said, ‘You’ll love it up there. Just play your normal game and they’ll accept you for that.’
“I don’t think he knew I could have gone to Motherwell!
“In the past month I’ve settled in and played my own game a lot better. Match fitness comes into play so, once I’m fully match fit and have played some games I’ll feel a lot better.”