HEARTS v DUNDEE UTD
MICHAEL GANNON
JAMIE WALKER is thrilled to see old pal Liam Smith back on track but aims to give him the runaround at Tynecastle tonight. The returning Jambos ace is set to face his former Gorgie team-mate when Dundee United hit the capital in the Betfred Cup. Walker reckons Smith has been unlucky with his career taking a few twists but has tipped his chum to crack it on Tayside. The playmaker – who is also set to square up to former Jambos boss Robbie Neilson and hitman Osman Sow – said: “I’m actually really good friends with Liam and we speak quite a bit away from football. “We have a bit of banter about that game when he gave away two goals at Dundee! “It will be good to go up against him, Robbie and Osman. The messages haven’t started yet. “Liam went to Ayr, did really well and got a good move to Dundee United. “You can look at it both ways. He maybe had options to go to Premiership teams but he might not have played. “He went to Ayr and played a m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk lot then got a good move. He believed in himself that he could take the opportunity.
“I first got to know him when he came into the first-team squad. He was a really good player. He maybe suffered when Ian Cathro played him at leftback, he had a few bad games and never really recovered.
“But I’m delighted to see where he is now.”
There will be no old pals’ act though and the same goes for United boss Neilson.
The former Hearts gaffer played a huge role in Walker’s rise when he led the Jambos to the Championship crown.
Walker reckons United have landed a top boss – even though the Tannadice squad should get braced to get battered.
He said: “When everyone first saw the numbers in training it was a bit long! But everyone bought into what Neilson wanted to do and respected it.
“In the season in the Championship and first season back in the Premiership, he got the rewards.
“Robbie came here and did well for my career. I’ll speak to him then hopefully we can get one over him.
“He took the club from where they were and built it back to the top. He taught me on and off the park.
“We just got off to a good start, a good pre-season, trained a lot and worked really hard.
“We carried it on, won a trophy and enjoyed it.
“Was it my most enjoyable season? I think so other than the season I scored 15 goals. It was special because Hibs and Rangers were in the league too.”