I’LL BE HEARTS MAN OF MITCH
United loan kid Demetri vows to star at left-back for Jambos
DEMETRI MITCHELL insists he’s the answer to the Jambos’ left-back problem after watching his new side draw with Vitesse Arnhem.
The Manchester United loan kid jetted in to Valencia to see rising star Andy Irving net the equaliser from a free-kick won by 15-year-old Connor Smith in the friendly at the Oliva Nova complex.
Mitchell is now hoping to show he can solve Hearts’ troublesome left-back position in the Scottish Cup Edinburgh derby clash with Hibs at Tynecastle on January 21.
He said: “Hearts got in touch with Manchester United because they have been looking for a left-back and I seemed to fit the bill for them.
“They spoke to Under-23s boss Nicky Butt. He has been the biggest influence on my career – he’s shown a lot of faith in me.
“I felt it was an exciting chance so I came up to look around the stadium and the training facilities. They were both excellent and this is a good place for me to progress my career.
“I have been told Hearts have been needing a left-back for a while. My aim is to play as much as I can and help them finish the season strongly.
“The first game back after the break is in the derby so it will be up to me to impress the boss so he picks me.”
Mitchell hasn’t featured for United since boss Jose Mourinho handed him his debut against Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League last season.
But training with Old Trafford stars has fuelled the 21-year-old’s ambition to gain game time during his six-month loan stint at Hearts.
He said: “It was special making my debut at Crystal Palace. I hoped it would lead to more opportunities at United but that hasn’t happened so that’s why I was keen to go on loan.
“It’s inspirational to train alongside guys like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and other first-team players at United.
“Being around players of that calibre gives you the motivation to go achieve the things they have in their careers.”
Mitchell could get the nod as Hearts look to go one better than their Vitas draw against German second tier outfit Nurnberg today.
The Jambos went behind with Milot Rashica crossing for Bryan Linssen to nod home in 15 minutes.
Cole Stockton then came close to equalising when his flick was hacked off the line before the break.
Jambos boss Craig Levein rang the changes at the interval with seven substitutions. John Souttar threw his body on the line to prevent Mason Mount doubling the Dutch Eredivisie side’s lead and Linssen blasted wide of target when he was clean through.
But Irving snatched an equaliser when Smith won a free-kick that he curled round the wall and into the net from 22 yards in 84 minutes.