I’m back to my best after taking the slump in summer
HEARTS WALKER REVIVAL Speculation over switch to Ibrox saw star’s form nosedive but Jambo is back at best
JAMIE WALKER reckons he is back to his best – and hopes it stays that way.
The Hearts winger has confessed his form took a nosedive amid speculation over his future and a possible move to Rangers.
Walker was even dropped from the squad at one point because former boss Ian Cathro claimed he was “not in the right frame of mind”. With the summer transfer window closing and Walker still at Tynecastle new boss Craig Levein spoke of the player suffering a “disappointment” that the switch west had fallen through. But following his recovery from a hamstring injury the 24-year-old feels he is back to peak condition after netting a stunning free-kick in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton at Tynecastle.
That display came after what Levein branded as Walker’s best display of the season in the previous week’s draw with Ross County.
Walker said: “Hopefully that’s me finding my best form again. It’s been a tough four or five months for me. I’ve not been at my best.
“But last week I was excellent and on Saturday I put in another good performance. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
Hearts were left disappointed they could not maintain the lead Walker gave them early in the second half against Accies, with Xavier Tomas’s header ensuring the Jambos winless run stretched to six matches.
But Walker believes they can be satisfied with the draw after losing Jamie Brandon to a red card for a second booking before half-time.
He said: “Not to hold on for three points was disappointing but we played with 10 men for the majority of the match and dug deep. It’s a point at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, it’s understood Levein and Austin MacPhee will face no further action following their dismissals against Hamilton.
But both men and both clubs have been warned over their future conduct following the melee that preceded MacPhee’s punishment. The management pair were sent to the stand after separate incidents in the 1-1 draw.
SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan has reviewed footage and ref Bobby Madden’s report and decided no further punishment is necessary.
Levein was banished from the touchline as he refused to walk five yards towards Madden for a lecture after he complained about a decision.
MacPhee sparked a mass confrontation after a clash with Hamilton’s Darian Mackinnon and the pair ended up on the ground.
Mackinnon avoided punishment while MacPhee was ordered off.