Jambos have what it takes to last the pace says McLaren

Former Hearts defender Alan McLaren believes his ex-teammate Craig Levein has a strong enough squad to sustain the Edinburgh club’s excellent start to the season.

McLaren was part of Hearts teams which finished second and third in the league but often struggled in the latter stages of campaigns.

But, after signing 18 players in the summer, Levein has plenty of cover should injuries, suspensions and tiredness hit.

And McLaren is excited at the prospect of a positive season after Hearts won their first five matches to move five points clear in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

McLaren, who played for Hearts from 1987 to 1994, said: “In my era it was all about getting to Christmas. We got to Christmas and were still top of the league and thought ‘great’.

“Suddenly lack of numbers hit your squad, which isn’t going to be the case here at the moment because obviously Craig has a fairly big squad.

“So it’s got all the ingredients that this is going to last the whole season. They are playing well, not conceding goals and scoring goals. It’s a great recipe to get them a good finish at the end of the season.

“You have a strong Hearts, a strong Hibs, Aberdeen have been second place for the last few years and obviously Rangers are back in the fold, so Scottish football is on the up.”

Hearts have an added advantage in having free midweeks while Celtic and Rangers play in the Europa League until mid-December at least.

Former Rangers player McLaren, who was promoting Hearts’ Play the Game initiative, said: “It’s very difficult, especially now it’s on a Thursday and a Sunday. Your routine is mucked up.

“Rangers have to go to Moscow, then they come back and play on the Sunday. If it’s a live game, it’s an early kick-off. These things will be a test.

“But as a player you want to be playing in Europe. You will take playing on a Thursday and a Sunday and go and enjoy it and thrive on it. Rangers and Celtic have big enough squads that they should be able to cope, but it is demanding.”

The Play the Game campaign sees Hearts coaches help grassroots clubs go back to basics and encourage children to play small-sided games.

“The best and easiest way to grow players is to let them play games,” McLaren said. “I learnt to play by getting a ball with your mates and having a kickabout.”