Martin deals himself in at Tynecastle
HEARTS snapped up former Middlesbrough playmaker Malaury Martin on a threeand-a-half-year contract yesterday — and could plunge the Frenchman straight into a Scottish Cup debut against Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park on Sunday if his international clearance comes through in time.
Martin, 28, who becomes Ian Cathro’s third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of Aaron Hughes and Lennard Sowah, joins the Tynecastle outfit after leaving Norwegian top-flight side Lillestrom earlier this month.
And the midfielder insisted that he can’t wait to return to the hurly-burly of British football, having witnessed the raucous support of fans during spells at Boro and Blackpool.
‘The atmosphere in Britain is something special. I have played in different countries but, in my opinion, this is the best in Europe,’ said Martin, who boasts a classy pedigree after coming through the youth ranks of AS Monaco and appearing for France at every youth level between Under-17s and 21s.
‘The passion of the people in the stadium gives you all the motivation you need to be your best. I have had a great meeting with the manager and I already knew about Hearts.
‘I played for Middlesbrough and lived in Newcastle in the past, so that is not far away — and I heard things about Hearts. So it was great to hear they were interested in me and I was happy to sign.’
Martin, who also turned out for Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland and Sandnes Ulf in Norway, added: ‘When I was in the UK I was following the Scottish league and that is one of the reasons I am here.
‘It is a great feeling to be at Hearts, see the stadium and I really enjoyed my first day here.’
Cathro’s plans are beginning to take shape after Juanma, Alim Ozturk and Tony Watt all left the club this month, while Igor Rossi has also departed to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Faisaly Harmah.
The new coach remains keen to secure reinforcements in the heart of defence — with Ipswich’s Christophe Berra having already been linked with a return to his former club — and will seek to snap up a new right-back as Scotland international Callum Paterson is out until October with cruciate knee ligament damage.