Eager Djoum will curb his enthusiasm

SPFL PREMIERSHIP

ARNAUD DJOUM admits he was lucky his first appearance in a Hearts jersey in six months did not lead to another enforced absence from the game.

The Cameroon midfielder was not worried about a relapse of his Achilles injury when he came on as a substitute during a 4-1 win over St Mirren on September 1.

Relieved to finally be fit again, the 29-year-old was lucky not to see red for clattering Saints winger Ryan Flynn with virtually his first piece of action.

Putting the episode down to high spirits and rustiness, Djoum is now hoping to continue his recovery in a calmer manner at Motherwell this afternoon as Craig Levein’s table-toppers head for Fir Park.

‘It was a great feeling to be back on the pitch against St Mirren but I could have had a sending off,’ nodded Djoum.

‘I think I was too excited after being out for so long. I was back playing at Tynecastle and my emotions were high.

‘It was a pretty bad tackle. It probably deserved a red card and I was lucky I didn’t get it.

‘But it was a good feeling to be back and the support I got from the Hearts fans was special.

‘I need to thank them because they’re really great and they have been so supportive with me.

‘They sent me a lot of messages when I was out injured and that was nice for me to read.’

Djoum was helped through his rehab by Tynecastle team-mate John Souttar, who successfully came back from an Achilles problem last season.

Defender Souttar has since found his best form and made an impressive competitive Scotland debut in Monday’s 2-0 Nations League Group C1 victory over Albania at Hampden.

Djoum is now hoping to star in a similar story and win his place back in the Cameroon national team squad under new boss, the legendary Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf. Djoum said: ‘I’m not really surprised by how quickly I am back fit because John Souttar had the same injury as me and he took around six months to come back as well.

‘So, I knew that if I did a good rehab, I would be back in good time.

‘John really was a big help to me throughout that time. I asked him a lot of questions about the rehab and what I need to do to come back stronger. I thank him for that help.

‘Sometimes it is good to have someone who has been through the same injury before and who can give you an insight into it like he has.

‘You see how strongly John has come back from this injury. He is playing his best football now and he is in his national team, so that gives me a lot of inspiration.

‘Hopefully I will get the call from Clarence Seedorf in the future.

‘When I heard Clarence Seedorf was in charge, it was a big surprise. But it is fantastic for Cameroonian football to have such a big personality and a great player as the coach. Hopefully I can show him what I can do.’

In what represented the biggest recruitment drive in Hearts’ 144-year history, Levein signed 17 players over the summer.

Djoum admits those huge changes in personnel have left him feeling like he has only just arrived at Tynecastle.

‘When I look around the dressing room and see all the names on the back of the shirts, I feel like a new signing myself,’ he smiled. ‘Everything is so different now. I need to start again. But the people at the club know what I am capable of and they know my qualities.

‘I need to work hard because there are a lot of good players in the team and it will be a challenge to get back in.’

Levein is likely to return to the dugout at Fir Park this afternoon for the first time since his heart scare last month.

Djoum hopes that he is not beside his new boss and is instead back in his starting line-up.

‘It is good to have the manager back,’ he smiled. ‘I have known him for a long time and he is so important for us all.

‘All the players are very happy to see him back and, hopefully, he is on the bench on Saturday.’