NOW COMES LIFT-OFF
Jorge: You go down in history here if you win a trophy... this can be career defining for us
JORGE GRANT knows the difference between a right good Hearts team and a great one lies in the trophy cabinet at the end of the season.
And the Jambos midfielder is determined to help the current squad earn their place among the legendary Tynecastle sides by lifting a trophy.
Grant has heard all about the Gorgie trophy triumphs in the recent past and he’s love to grab a slice of history himself.
The Jambos are flying after seeing off Celtic in the league and are out to claim their place in the Scottish Cup last four by beating Morton at Cappielow tonight.
Grant said: “Is this how great Hearts teams are defined? I think so. You go down in history at the club if you win a trophy.
“Everyone remembers the moments when a club wins something so hopefully we can give ourselves that opportunity this year.
“Obviously the lads who have been here before and been on cup runs know what’s required. When I was coming here Robbie Neilson and Joe Savage stressed to me what’s expected here and that Hearts have been in a lot of cup finals before.
“It’s important that all the new players who come in understand that’s what we have to get to and try to win trophies.
“The difference between being here and playing in the lower leagues in England is that down there there’s not much opportunity to win trophies. But when you come here you know the stature of the club and the chances to do that will be there.
“In your career it’s always something you want to do. It can be career-defining for us because there are not too many chances elsewhere.
“It’s something I want to do and look back on in my career.
“I’ve seen the odd thing on Twitter about Hearts teams of the past winning things so you want that for yourself.”
Hearts are bouncing after beating Celtic last time out and Grant’s confidence is through the roof after keeping is cool to beat Joe Hart from the spot for the opener in the Hoops win.
The former Nottingham Forrest and Peterborough midfielder clocked Hart winding up Lawrence Shankland for not taking the penalty – and the keeper tried the mind games on him too.
It didn’t work and Grant was buzzing to stick the ball past the 75-times capped
England legend. He said: “I heard what Joe was saying and he was laughing at me too, asking why I was taking the penalty and trying to put me off. He was trying to get in our heads.
“I’d watched him before the game so knew if the opportunity came along what I would do. When I scored I just wanted to celebrate the goal so nothing like that came into my mind.
“Scoring goals is something I’ve always liked doing so celebrating that was good enough for me.
“We’ve done well in those games
against Celtic when they’ve come around, so of course results like last weekend give you confidence.
“When we get to that point, hopefully we can do the business.”
Hearts were switched on against Celtic but they won’t ease up when facing Morton. Grant has experienced FA Cup runs and knows what it’s like to be underdog.
But the 30-year-old said: “At Notts County we started out in the first round one season and got to the fifth round, beating Brentford.
“We did well against Swansea, who were in the Premier League at the time, drawing with them at home but then got beat 8-1 in the replay.
“I’ve also played against Everton and Liverpool in the cups but never got near a final. It’s important we know what it’s going to be like there so we have watched them a lot.
“We will have to start the game in the right manner and understand their threats, so we have to bring our game to it. It’s a bit of a banana skin, an away tie at a tough place to go and everyone expects us to win so we have to deal with the pressure.
“I feel we have done that well this season so hopefully we can go there and do the business. We’re in decent form, we’re doingwell at the moment. But we can’t be complacent.
“We know what our qualities are and what we can bring to this game.
“Obviously people have been in and out of the team so I feel we have that togetherness. We’ve done well with that and having a striker in the form Lawrence is always helps.
“On the back of last season he probably had the pressure on him to do it again and be the big man of the team.
“He’s done that and it’s important for us that we keep trying to get him the opportunities to score in games.”