NAI PROBLEM
HEARTS FLAK TO HIS OLD HAUNT Levein: Steven will handle stick from Gers fans at Ibrox, my only worry is his fitness
CRAIG LEVEIN insists Steven Naismith can handle the boo boys as the Hearts star prepares to face Rangers for the first time since departing Ibrox under a cloud in 2012.
The 31-year-old is ensured a hostile reception in Govan after he joined Everton in the wake of Gers’ financial collapse, choosing not to transfer his contract to Charles Green’s outfit.
That anger was cranked up when Naismith, a boyhood fan of the Glasgow giants, said Rangers “no longer exists in its current form”, a comment for which he has since expressed regret.
However, Levein has shrugged off the prospect of the hitman emerging as public enemy No.1 and says Naismith has endured more challenging atmospheres than what he’ll face tomorrow.
He said: “I haven’t even thought about that. The reason I say it’s good we can go to Ibrox with players like Naismith and Kyle Lafferty is they handle everything.
“They have played in bigger arenas than this and Steven is an experienced player. I don’t even know what this is all about. To be honest I am not interested.
“My only interest is if he is going to be fit or not and whether his hamstring is at a point where it can get through the game. If it is I can play him without worrying, he is experienced enough to deal with whatever happens.
“These guys are not fazed by the game, not nervous or worried. They just go into the game thinking, ‘I need to be at the top of my game today.’ It’s experience and that helps in any line of work.”
Levein admits he has been impressed by the job done by rookie boss Graham Murty and has no doubt Rangers have improved after a January transfer window that saw them sign Russell Martin, Greg Docherty and Jamie Murphy among others.
Nevertheless, he reckons there are weaknesses to be exploited after attending their astonishing 5-3 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park last Sunday – saying that even Gers directors struggled to believe what they were seeing.
Levein added: “It was the most bizarre football match I have seen. I’ve never seen a game with so many mistakes. I was sitting with Rangers directors and they were thinking the same.
“Some of it was brilliant, some fantastic, but both teams made some unbelievable mistakes. I hope they do it again tomorrow!
“Murty has had a tough situation to deal with. He went from Under-20s to first team, then back down, then back up. That will have been difficult. I know because of all the changes we have had here – they don’t help.
“However, he has done a good job so I’m expecting it to be tough.”
Hearts will be without midfielder Arnaud Djoum after he snapped an Achilles against Ross County last weekend.
Levein revealed the Cameroon international will go for surgery next week as he embarks on a gruelling road to recovery.
He said: “We had only just got to the point where he started to feel his fitness was at a level where he could do the things he wanted to do again.
“I’m obviously sad about the fact he’s not available. We are a better team with him in it.”
Meanwhile, Levein admits he wants a closer look at Ivory Coast youth international Ghislain Guessan after the striker scored in a development squad fixture against Dundee United on Tuesday.
The Hearts boss added said: “He has done reasonably well so I have asked him to stay another week.
“It’s to see if we can get his fitness up and see if he can do some of the things strikers need to do in Scotland – which basically means more running about!” CRAIG LEVEIN