Naismith is cool over prospect of hot reception
LEVEIN SAYS STAR CAN COPE WITH IBROX FLAK By BRIAN MARJORIBANKS
HEARTS boss Craig Levein has backed Steven Naismith to handle the heat on his first visit back to Ibrox since controversially quitting Rangers.
The 31-year-old is set for a hot reception six years after declining to transfer his contract over to Charles Green’s new Sevco company after the financial collapse of the Glasgow giant.
Departing for Everton in June 2012, Naismith described post-liquidation Rangers as ‘a new club’ — comments the onloan Norwich attacker later admitted he regretted.
Levein professes not to know — nor care — about the ins and outs of Naismith’s turbulent relationship with supporters of a club where he won three titles, a Scottish Cup and two League Cups in five seasons.
But he is certain the Scotland international is experienced enough to thrive amid any animosity — if he recovers from a hamstring injury in time.
‘Do I have any concerns about Steven Naismith going back to Ibrox? I haven’t even thought about that,’ insisted Levein.
‘Really, I don’t even know what the whole thing is about, to be honest. In all honesty, it has not been in my head. I am not interested.
‘My only thoughts are if Steven is going to be fit or not, whether his hamstring is at a point where it can get through the game without any further injury.
‘We have 12 or 13 games to go, and having him out for a longer period of time is the thing that worries me more than anything. So we will see how he gets on.
‘But if he is fit then I can pitch him in without worrying about anything, because he is experienced enough to deal with whatever happens.
‘It won’t faze Steven at all. It’s good we can go to Ibrox with experienced players like Naismith and Kyle Lafferty because they handle everything.
‘They have played in bigger arenas than this. They’re not fazed by the game, they are not nervous or worried about playing at the venue.
‘They just go into games thinking: “I need to be at the top of my game today”.
‘They will take the ball under pressure, and when an opportunity arises there is no fear.
‘It’s just experience. That helps anybody in any line of work.’
Levein has done sterling work in rebuilding Hearts this season and setting a new club record for clean sheets in the process.
Against that backdrop, the look of horror on the former Scotland manager’s face can only be imagined as he watched last weekend’s eight-goal thriller at the SuperSeal Stadium as Rangers beat Hamilton Accies 5-3.
But Levein has been impressed by the stability Rangers boss Graeme Murty has brought to Ibrox in difficult circumstances.
‘I watched the Hamilton v Rangers game last week and it was the most bizarre football match I have ever seen,’ he smiled.
‘I have never seen a match with so many mistakes in it. It was unbelievable.
‘I was sitting with the Rangers directors and they were thinking the same.
‘Some of it was brilliant, some of it was fantastic, but both teams made unbelievable mistakes.
‘I’m hoping Rangers do that again on Saturday but I doubt very much that will be the case.
‘They have had a difficult time and Graeme Murty has had a difficult situation to deal with, being the 20s coach then becoming manager and then stepping back down.
‘Then he went back up again to be manager and it was temporary and then it was permanent.
‘That will have been difficult. But Graeme seems to have stabilised things since he has been given the job (until the end of the season).
‘I know Rangers aren’t at their absolute best just now. Graeme has a work in progress going on there.
‘But they’ve definitely improved since the window. They have brought some quality players in.
‘Graeme has done a good job and I’m expecting it to be tough on Saturday.’
While Rangers are the Scottish Premiership’s form team on the road, results have been harder to come by at Ibrox.
‘I hope that’s still the case on Saturday,’ said Levein, who has extended the trial of Ivorian striker Ghislain Guessan for another week.
‘Ibrox is not an easy place to play. Rangers have new players and the pressures and expectation levels there are different from other places.
‘I’m not going to feel sorry for anyone who is playing for Rangers but playing there is not as easy as some people might think.
‘Saturday will be a test for our players to see where they are mentally. A couple of teams have gone there this season and won matches, so let’s see if we can do that as well.’