At 35, I believe I can still win more cups ... and this Hearts team could make it my season SAYS STEVEN MacLEAN
STEVEN MacLEAN has already smashed one historic hoodoo with St Johnstone — and now he is ready to repeat the feat with Hearts.
MacLean, 35, wrote his name into Saints folklore in 2014 when he scored in their 2-0 Scottish Cup final triumph over Dundee United, helping the Perth club win the first piece of major silverware in their 130-year history.
Hearts have endured no such droughts in that tournament — winning it three times in the last two decades — but their League Cup record is becoming something of a millstone for the capital club.
They last lifted the trophy in 1962 when Norrie Davidson’s goal earned them a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at Hampden.
MacLean insists that is not good enough for the Gorgie men. ‘I still feel like I have a couple of more trophies in me,’ he said.
‘When I was at St Johnstone, winning the Scottish Cup was the first major trophy for the club in 130 years, so you are thinking: “This might not happen again in my lifetime”.
‘But, moving to Hearts, you see the history here and how often they have won cup competitions, so you know there is a chance.
‘I look at the squad the manager is building and the young players we have, and I think that it could be our year.
‘However, we have to make it happen and we need to do the business against Inverness.
‘It is 56 years since Hearts won this tournament, so it’s time we started doing better. If you get through the group phase, you’re only three games away from the final. With a bit of luck and a good draw, that’s possible.
‘But you have to grind out wins against difficult opposition and so-called lower teams in the early rounds if you have that aspiration of reaching finals.’
Hearts’ 5-0 hammering of Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night was enough to redress the goal difference between themselves and tomorrow’s visitors Inverness, ensuring that victory will see them leapfrog John Robertson’s side to qualify from Group C.
MacLean concedes the Hearts squad would have ‘bitten off your hand’ for that scenario last Monday morning when an SPFL hearing docked the club two points for fielding an ineligible player, Andy Irving, against Cove Rangers. ‘It’s a must-win, which is something we would have taken, looking back at the points taken off us,’ he said.
‘There had been a real fear it could be taken out of our hands. The boys were talking about how the Cove win could be taken off us, could be replayed or just a fine. There was a lot of uncertainty.
‘So, we’d have bitten off your hand for this situation at that time.’
Meanwhile, Hearts boss Craig Levein has told Ross Callachan he is free to find a new club after the combative midfielder slipped down the pecking order at Tynecastle.
The boyhood Jambos fan made 25 appearances last season, scoring four goals, after joining the club from Raith Rovers on a two-year deal.
However, the arrival of Olly Lee, Oliver Bozanic and Ryan Edwards, allied with the continued progress of Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald, have seen him slip out of the first-team picture.
Levein has revealed that Hearts have already had several enquiries for the player and will not stand in his way.
‘Ross wants to play every week and we’ve had a conversation with his agent, who is speaking to a number of clubs,’ said the manager.
Caley Thistle boss Robertson believes his team have no need to fear their trip to Tynecastle — where he enjoyed so much success as a player. ‘Hearts are favourites but we knew going to Tynecastle on the last day we would probably need to get something,’ he said. ‘We go there with a three-point advantage and there’s no reason we should fear them.’