Jambo Jordan is out to make up for lost time after Highland heartache
Jordan Roberts confesses that he has unfinished business in Scottish football after an injury-hit Highland fling with Inverness Caley Thistle.
The 26-year-old endured a torrid 2015/16 campaign in the Highland capital through no fault of his own, with a series of injury set-backs sabotaging his hopes of making an impact.
Roberts illustrated his undoubted potential on the occasions he escaped the treatment room, notching three goals in 13 appearances, including a dramatic late Scottish Cup winner against Motherwell.
However, he reflects on that time with the Caley Jags as a mentally and physicallydraining period for a young player.
He recalled: “I had stayed away from home when I was at previous clubs – but never 12 hours away!”
Now older, wiser and fully fit, Roberts is ready to show Scotland what he is really made of after joining the Jambos earlier this summer.
He said: “The difference from my first time in Scotland is two aspects, really – physically and mentally.
“I’m a few years older now, I know the league more and I’m familiar with the players.
“I’m coming up here to prove a point, and do the things I wanted to do at Inverness.
“I have felt fully fit since day one at Hearts, and I’ve cracked on with the sessions.
“Do I have unfinished business? Of course.
“I look to go out there in every game and give 100%, bring goals and assists. That’s what my position is about.
“Hopefully, I can put good numbers on the board and do well for the team.”
Since leaving Inverness after one campaign, Roberts has proved his ability in the English game, turning out for the likes of Crawley Town and sleeping giants, Ipswich Town.
But the lure of silverware tempted him back north of the border, with Hearts favourites to claim the Championship title and already in the semis of the 2019/20 Scottish Cup.
Roberts continued: “You want to have end goals, whether that is being in Team of the Year, winning league or winning cups.
“You want to be able to look back on your career and say: ‘I won this trophy, I was promoted from this league.’”
And with that Hampden showdown against Hibernian looming large at the end of the October, Roberts admits he is already dreaming of making it “a maroon day” in Edinburgh.
He added: “The boys have spoken about what a massive game the semi-final is.
“It’s the biggest game in Edinburgh, and you don’t want to be the ones coming off the pitch at Hampden as the losing team. Simple as that.
“We’ll do everything to get the job done on the day, and hopefully it will be a maroon day.”