With Lee name
Is out to make striking capital in the capital
thrilled when Robbie made me his assistant.
“Of course, it is all geared towards getting out of the Championship.
“We came so close last season but just couldn’t get it over the line in the penalty shoot-out against St Mirren.
“It was agonising for everyone to come so close.
“There may have been a concern that some people could have returned with a wee bit of a hangover from that disappointment.
“But the players and staff were upbeat, and determined to get on with it.
“I think we’ve started the season fairly well, and we are on the right track.
“So let’s hope we can push on and do the job. “Dundee United has been out of the top flight for far too long.
“This club is a sleeping giant and we are geared for the Premiership.
“But you need to earn the right to be there. It will not be handed to us on a plate.
“The supporters deserve success, and I didn’t realise just how big United are until I started working here.”
Mcculloch hopes to come up against former clubs Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Rangers next season.
He said: “It’s been a difficult start for Kilmarnock, but they must give Angelo Alessio time.
“There is no advantage in making knee-jerk decisions.
“It’s a time to support one another and have a collective spirit.
“At Motherwell, they are looking the part and it’s great to see them continue to produce so many youngsters of such high quality.
“I know a lot of hard work goes into that with the coaches and scouts in the youth set-up.
“At the top end of the table, Rangers are looking ready to push Celtic all the way this season.
“Steven Gerrard has recruited wisely, and there appears to be a real air of calm and composure about Ibrox.
“That will be vital to achieve success as the season goes on.
“They also have excellent leaders on the field in Steve Davis and James Tavernier.
“They will make sure the standards and levels are high, on and off the park.”
“Although it was 18 months, I think I only played the equivalent of six games of club football last year in terms of minutes.
“It was great to be a part of United’s promotion to the Premier League, but I’ve come to Hearts to play games and score goals and, hopefully, this will be the start of a good run.
“Being the age I am, I need to get regular game time, and hopefully score regular goals again.
“You just want to go out and contribute, but at the same time as a striker you know it is your job to score.
“It’s been a running joke so far, but it’ll turn eventually.
“The keeper made two good saves against Ross County, and at Cowdenbeath I hit the keeper in the face.
“When you’re on a run, those chances just go in. I had a similar run at Peterborough.
“I must have gone 14 or 15 games without any, then scored 13 in 13.
“That’s just the luck of the draw as a striker. You’ve just got to get on with it and help in other ways.
“It was nice to get off the mark and get through to the next round.
“Hopefully we can now take that form into the league.
“We needed to right a few wrongs after the goal-less draw against Ross County last weekend. I thought the fans were brilliant.
“I think for them to come out in the voice they did after Saturday was fantastic, and we gave them something to celebrate.
“I’m still getting up to speed. I didn’t really get a full pre-season.
“The way I play, it is getting a run of 90 minutes that’ll help me get fit. That is the monkey off my back in terms of goals anyway.”
Washington is also bullish about Hearts’ prospects for the campaign ahead.
And he’s full of admiration for the club’s recruitment in the transfer window, which could yet see Japanese midfielder, Ryotaro Meshino, join up.
He has been granted a work permit, and is set to sign on loan from Manchester City.
“I think the squad we’ve assembled is brilliant,” said Washington.
“Bringing in the likes of Loic Damour and Glenn Whelan, players I’ve faced in the Championship over the last few years, is a statement.
“And there are others to come.
“So I’m looking forward to everyone getting up to speed.
“We see the quality every day in training, which is why I think the goalless draw with Ross County was so much more disappointing.”