Aman a mission to make it big in England
Danish winger hopes Hearts springboard him to big move
SIX years ago Danny Amankwaa had the football world at his feet. The Danish winger spent a week’s trial with Chelsea as a host of English clubs were chasing his signature before deciding his best chance of making a top-team breakthrough came by signing for Copenhagen in his homeland. Three league titles later the 23-year-old hopes a move to Hearts can help him finally reach the dizzy heights of the English Premier League. Amankwaa penned an 18-month deal with a year option with the Gorgie club and will go straight into the Jambos squad for the visit of Motherwell to Tynecastle today. He admits he is desperate to repay Hearts boss Craig Levein’s faith in him after an injury plagued last two-and-a-half seasons which have restricted him to just 25 appearances in all competitions. Amankwaa said: “I had a trial at Chelsea eight years ago and I had the chance to go to other clubs in England. “Hopefully I can still reach those levels and I may get back there one day. “I want to play some games in Scotland and then hopefully move on. “I spoke to the manager and he has made a good plan for me. He believes in me and I am happy he has seen my qualities. “Now I want to repay his faith and show him and the Hearts fans that I am worth it. “I had to leave Denmark and show myself in another country. It has been tough mentally as I had three injuries and was out for six months at a time. “I did my Achilles and then my meniscus on my knee went and I also did my knee cartilage. Maybe people do not believe in me anymore. “I know I’ve had some injury setbacks but I look forward to showing everybody how good I am. I want a lot of game time at Hearts and I hope to score goals and assist. “I don’t know much about Scottish football but I do know Brian Laudrup played for Rangers.
“He was really good and hopefully I can do the same.
“I watched DVDs of Hearts’ recent win over Celtic and the cup match against Hibs and it was really good. I am ready to play against Motherwell if selected.”
Jambos boss Craig Levein insists he was delighted to have snapped up Amankwaa because the player has untapped potential.
However, the Tynecastle gaffer quickly pointed out they have not signed the new Jamie Walker.
Levein said: “The reason Danny is the one I really wanted was because his career was heading up the way before injuries hampered his development.
“But there is real untapped potential. I like the story and I like the way he plays.
“Danny is quick and can play either side and in the No.10 role.
“Part of the thing that appealed to me was that he can do three different things.
“I don’t know if he can play as an out-and-out striker but he can play in behind.
“The description fits Jamie Walker, being able to play in those three positions, but Danny’s a different type of player.”
Meanwhile, Levein admitted he was in the dark about any possible move by Sunderland to snatch Northern Ireland internationalist Kyle Lafferty.
The striker is suspended for today’s clash but should return in midweek for the visit to Parkhead to face Celtic.
However, fellow frontmen Cole Stockton and Esma Goncalves look set for the Tynecastle exit.
Stockton is in talks with Carlisle while Goncalves is not in the squad to face Motherwell as he is still in the process of finalising a move to Uzbekistan side Pakhtakor Tashkent.
Levein said: “I’ve not heard anything about Lafferty.
“I’ve had a chat with Cole – he’s a bit frustrated and his agent is looking for something else.
“I said I would let him go if he found something.
“As for Isma we are still waiting to see what happens with that.”