Naismith’s raring to go for cup derby clash
● Hearts’ enthusiasm impressed striker ● Levein: Signing is real coup for the club
Steven Naismith is ready to make his Hearts debut in Sunday’s Edinburgh derby after finally completing his loan move to the Gorgie club.
The Norwich City player had been linked with several clubs but said it was the enthusiasm of the capital outfit that convinced him to see out the season at Tynecastle. His positive experience of manager Craig Levein from their time together with Scotland was also a key factor.
Naismith said: “Hearts were showing the most enthusiasm to get something done as quickly as possible and I liked that but I took a bit of time to think about all my options.
“It is about the whole package rather than just moving for the sake of moving and Hearts ticked all the boxes,” added the 31-year-old in an interview with Hearts TV.
“I know how the gaffer works and what he wants and what he expects and how he likes things to run. I enjoyed that when we were at Scotland together and that gives you a lot more comfort when you are making a decision. It definitely played a part.”
The former Kilmarnock and Rangers forward, who has scored more than 100 career goals, has penned a deal that will keep him at Hearts until the end of the season after a lack of starting opportunities saw his career in the English Championship stall.
Capped 45 times for Scotland, Naismith has been in England for six years, four with Everton before an £8.5 million switch to car row road two years ago. But the versatile attacker, who made his senior debut at 17 for Kilmarnock against Hearts’ rivals Hibernian, in 2004, and went on to secure the SPL title, and winners’ medals in both the Scottish and League Cups with Rangers, said the time was right to return to Scotland.
“As you get older you think about the type of team you are going to and what is involved. Are there younger players? Is the squad good? It is not just about going and getting football and I’m delighted to get the opportunity to come to Hearts, a club that has obviously had its difficulties in the past but is definitely flourishing now under the leadership of Ann [Budge] and the gaffer.
“If I can help move that forward then I will be delighted to do so.”
Naismith had a tour of the training facilities at Riccarton and the renovated stadium and said that had only fuelled his “eagerness to get started”.
He will train with his new team-mates for the first time today and is keen to prove himself worthy of a place in the team for Sunday’s Scottish Cup fourth-round derby.
Naismith added: “I say regularly that some of my favourite games have been at Tynecastle, for the atmosphere and I think that will be intensified with the new stand. If I can have some more good memories here at Tynecastle, I will be glad of that.
“I’m raring to just be involved in matches again but it adds a bit more to it, the fact that it is a derby, at home, and I’m eager to get going.
“I have been fit for six to eight weeks now and have managed to get a few games in with the 23s. I am in a good place.”
Naismith is Hearts’ second acquisition of the transfer window following the arrival of left-back Demetri Mitchell on loan from Manchester United. Levein remains hopeful that more business can be done, possibly even in time for Sunday’s game.
In the meantime, he is delighted with the calibre of the latest addition. “It’s a bit of a coup to bring somebody in of Steven’s quality, not just in a footballing sense but as a person as well,” said Levein.
“It’s in keeping with the senior players we have here already, the likes of Don Cowie, Christophe Berra and Aaron Hughes. I think he’ll be a huge player in the dressing room and a great example to the rest of the team. On top of that he’s a fantastically talented football player.
“He’ll bring a bit of nous, experience, energy and enthusiasm – which he has in abundance. He’s also got goalscoring ability.”
After five days in the Spanish sunshine, Hearts return to five games in 13 days – starting with an Edinburgh derby on Sunday. It is a situation manager Craig Levein describes as “mental”.
The Scottish Cup tie against Hibs precedes Wednesday’s league visit to Hamilton, Saturday’s home match with Motherwell, then a midweek trip to Celtic three days later and a meeting with St Johnstone the following weekend.
A three-week winter break allowed some much-needed recuperation time for Levein’s injured players. Some of those are key to Hearts’ quest for European football, so the manager will not complain about the rest. However, cramming fixtures in both before and after a very short break can also put added pressure on players.
“It’s mental,” Levein said. “You get a winter break and then you don’t get eased back into it. All of a sudden it’s foot to the floor. However, that’s the way it is so there’s no point moaning about it.
“The break has actually been quite good for us. We had quite a few injured players who would never have been involved in this Hibs game if it had taken place at the start of the month. It’s helped us on this occasion so I’m not going to complain about it.”
Hearts arrived back from the Costa Blanca on Tuesday and immediately intensified their preparations for Hibs’ visit. “It sharpens your senses,” explained Levein. “It’s a big
0 Craig Levein felt Hearts’ training camp in the Costa Blanca was beneficial to the younger players. match for us. Hibs have been away as well [to Portugal]. It’s just about how the preparations have gone. We will be trying our best to make sure we’re right at it from the first whistle.
“We’ve done work over in Spain and now we’re concentrating on the game on Sunday. We’ve watched Hibs and we’ve looked at how we’re going to play so it’s all normal football stuff.”
It is far from a normal cup tie, though. Hibs haven’t lost in nine derbies, Hearts are seeking to extend their club record of six clean sheets, and the Tynecastle side are unbeaten in their last nine league games.
This one offers the reward of a Scottish Cup fifth-round place. “There are all these out- side things and different bits and pieces, but it will come down to who does better on the day,” observed Levein. “The preparation is important. My experience in the past with these winter breaks is that it isn’t always easy to negotiate what to do. We’re hoping we’ve got it right.”
Friendlies against Vitesse Arnhem and Nurnberg brought a 1-1 draw and 5-0 defeat respectively. The benefits of the trip went beyond simple scorelines for the Hearts coaching staff as they try to develop a host of teenage players into first-team assets.
“The young lads have had some brilliant experience of being away for a period of time and being able to spend more time with the senior players. They’ve been able to talk to the establishedguysaboutvarious bits and bobs,” said Levein.
“The benefits of these things aren’t always obvious but when you have young players it’s particularly important that they start to learn about being away from home, staying in hotels and how you behave.
“You don’t spend time around Aaron Hughes, Don Cowie and Christophe Berra without picking up some important information. The trip was really good from that point of view.”
It also allowed loan signing Demetri Mitchell from Manchester United a chance to acquaint himself with new colleagues.