Boss reveals what he thinks will lift Hearts
CRAIG LEVEIN hailed Jamie Walker for putting the transfer window from hell behind him to shine again for Hearts.
Walker remained a Jambo after long-time suitors Rangers failed to match Hearts’ valuation this summer.
The long-running saga had an impact on the Hearts star’s state of mind.
But he rose above it in Levein’s first game as head coach to prove he is 100% committed to the Tynecastle club.
“He’s been in a difficult situation and he’s a young lad who is a football player at the end of the day and he wants to play football,” said Hearts’ head coach.
“He trained brilliantly this week, his numbers were really good. I can only give everybody the same opportunity, and he’s had the same opportunity as everyone else to impress this week.
“He did himself proud out there and as you saw from the reaction of the Hearts supporters when he came off, they were fully appreciative.
“I think that could go for every single one of them.”
Levein’s first game as a gaffer since Scotland lost 2-0 to Belgium in October 2012 ended in a draw.
But were it not for Joe Lewis’ heroics, Hearts would have strolled it.
Levein admitted he felt “robbed” by the outcome and spun-out by the experience.
But he believes his old touchline sharpness will return before long.
“I wasn’t as clearheaded as I wanted to be but that’s just because of everything,” he said.
“But another two or three games and a bit more training and I’ll be feeling more like it.
“It’s a little bit like a player getting back into it, and I felt that way in training as well.
“My bad knee is playing up as well!
“Once I have got over the disappointment of not winning the game there will be lots of positives to build on.
“But I am feeling robbed a little bit.
“I give an enormous amount of credit to Aberdeen, in particular their goalkeeper. He was outstanding today.
“I couldn’t really blame our strikers for not hitting the target because they did that.”
He added: “A lot will depend on what happens next week.
“Taking three points today would really have jumped us forward so I’m disappointed because of that.
“When I look at the game again there will be things I feel really good about. I feel for the players because they worked their tails off for 90 minutes.
“At the end we were on top and had Aberdeen on the ropes and we just needed that killer punch to kill the game off.
“But we didn’t manage that unfortunately.”