HALKETT’S FINALLY ENJOYING A STABLE HEARTS EXISTENCE
IN his rise through the leagues with Livingston, Craig Halkett benefited from being in a band of brothers who barely left each other’s side. If Halkett hoped the vibe could be recreated at Hearts he was soon disabused of the notion. From the telepathic understanding with future Scotland cap Declan Gallagher and Alan Lithgow, the Hearts pick to partner him was often the first defender to gingerly step off the physio’s table. That’s if Halkett made it out of the treatment room himself.
He suffered medial knee ligament damage on his first outing with the captain’s armband just two months into his Hearts career. Then, with either Joel Pereira or Bobby Zlamal an unconvincing goalkeeping selection, there was no Liam Kellystyle safety net in behind.
The injury-ravaged turmoil to beset the club ultimately contributed to Halkett landing back in the Championship last year. Yet there were signs towards the end of that strange, shortened second-tier season of a defensive fortitude and continuity craved by the 26-year-old.
Converting to a back three, bolstered by a fit-again John Souttar, has worked the trick for Robbie Neilson.
Souttar’s return helped spawn four consecutive clean sheets for Craig Gordon at the close of 2020/21.
This season, with Souttar and either Stephen Kingsley or Alex Cochrane split either side of Halkett in his favoured spot, it’s six wins from six.
Halkett believes the formation switch and Souttar’s availability is helping to create a formidable backbone for Hearts back in the top flight — and in seeking silverware via the Premier Sports Cup.
‘It was well over 100 games that unit I was in played together at Livingston,’ Halkett explains.
‘You get to know each other’s games so well that, when things happen in the game, you don’t even need to talk.
‘Because you just know where your team-mate is going to be — and what they’re going to do.
‘If I go back a couple of years, when I first signed for Hearts, we had back threes, back fours, I played with different defenders all the time.
‘Our side changed a lot through injury. You never really felt you got a partnership, so it was difficult for me.
‘A run of games with the same guys adds confidence to a team. Having John back and working alongside me — I get on well with him off the park too — helps.
‘We’re different types but work well together. It benefits everyone. I feel it’s playing to my strengths.
‘At Livingston we played a three, so I’m used to it. It’s starting to get that way. I know we had a wee change with Alex (Cochrane) in for Kingsley last weekend.
‘But I think, because of how hard we’re working on the training park, everyone gets the idea and the
system now. The more games we have, the better it’s going to get.
‘We work hard on drills, on where everyone should be at certain times. And how, against different teams, the back three changes a bit — sometimes to a five.
‘It’s something that’s clicked and, I think, for all three centre-backs plus the full-backs, it suits us well.’ Halkett is cognisant of the need for he and Hearts to treasure the time Souttar is by his side. As Craig Levein pointed out recently, the 24-year-old wouldn’t be at Hearts right now had it not been for the wicked misfortune of two snapped Achilles injuries and a spell out with ankle ligament damage.
Souttar made three Scotland appearances for Alex McLeish in 2018 and was named in Steve Clarke’s first squad.
On current form, he will soon be back in contention for the national side and in the frame for a big-money transfer.
‘There was a lot of talk when John first came to Hearts and played well that he’d get a move to England,’ Halkett recalled.
‘And there was the talk of both Old Firm clubs looking at him at one point, too.
‘So he’s definitely a player who has that big move in him. He’s got the ability and you see how good a pro he is about the place, the professionalism to go with it.
‘It’s great having him back, huge for the club. Everyone knows he’s a top player and a really good guy as well. We’re all reaping the benefits.’
One such dividend was the winning goal against Celtic on the first day of Premiership action as Hearts returned to the top flight with a 2-1 victory.
Halkett cautions that hosts Celtic and impressive Japanese winger Kyogo Furuhashi will be on a mission to make Hearts suffer today in their Premier Sports Cup tie. He said: ‘They’re going to be right up for it to get revenge on us but we’re on a high.
‘Furuhashi looks like a sharp player. We saw highlights from the weekend, he scored a few goals and could have scored a couple more.
‘He wasn’t in one set position so he’s difficult to pick up and it’s something we’ve looked at. He’s a dangerous player who we’ll need to
keep an eye on.’
It suits us well playing as a three, we all understand the system now