Boyce can be our hero but needs help, says Stendel
DANIEL StENdEL has backed Liam Boyce to grab the goals that will save Hearts from relegation.
But the manager has warned that the rest of the team will have to start scoring if they are to guarantee Premiership survival.
Northern Ireland striker Boyce has agreed terms on a three-anda-half-year deal and, paperwork permitting, could go straight into the starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash against Rangers at tynecastle.
Hearts have paid around £150,000 to Burton Albion to secure the former Ross County striker.
And Stendel, reunited with former Barnsley youngster toby Sibbick after a loan deal was confirmed yesterday, is confident that Boyce will make an impact.
‘Liam can create chances alone and he can be ruthless in the box to win his duels with his body. He can score easy goals — and not so easy goals,’ said the German head coach.
‘In some situations, you need someone who can decide a game. At the moment, we work so hard in every game but we’ve not had luck to score a goal.
‘In the Scottish Cup game (a 5-0 home win over Airdrie), it was our first goal and we had luck when we scored.
‘You can see how much that can change the atmosphere in the stadium and lift the players.
‘We need more experiences like this because, when we’re 1-0 in front, we can play our game.
‘this is what we missed in the past and I hope we can change it with one or two new players.
‘It’s important that we believe in our ability to change things, to change the results especially.
‘For me, that means bringing in players who have more quality.
‘And also, when you come from outside, you don’t come with the baggage of players already here.
‘If you have played here for the past six months, you carry that baggage.
‘So a new player comes in, he wants to play, he wants to show that it was the right decision to sign him. I expect positive things for the squad, for the atmosphere and, especially, for our quality on the pitch.’
Hearts have scored just two league goals since Stendel’s arrival as boss last month, the former Barnsley and Hannover coach admitting: ‘You can see it, not just in the last few games but the whole season.
‘Our top scorer has three goals. that’s not enough for any team in the league. But I’m wary of saying that we sign one player and he solves all the problems.
‘We need help from the other players on the pitch.
‘But it helps to know that you have a player who has scored goals in the past, someone you believe can score again.
‘I still expect all other players on the pitch to carry more threat in front of goal.
‘that means at set-pieces, from the wing, from midfield.
‘But it’s good when we have a signing like a new striker, because it shows everyone that we are doing everything to change the situation.’
Scotland defender John Souttar welcomed the arrival of the 28-year-old striker, a player he knows well enough from their Premiership tussles when the Northern Irishman was banging in the goals for Ross County.
‘It was a couple of years ago when I last played against Liam,’ said Souttar.
‘He is a very clever footballer. I think everyone in the league knows he scores goals.
‘He is the sort of player people would love to join us at this moment in time.
‘He scored a lot of goals at Ross County when they were not necessarily doing too well. that shows how good a player he is.’
Stendel does not expect full-backs Michael Smith or Aaron Hickey to be fit for the visit of Rangers.
Four points adrift at the foot of the table, the tynecastle side desperately need a big performance to lift spirits — and a game against Steven Gerrard’s men at least presents them with an opportunity to make some headlines.
‘On the one hand, you need cleverness and a little bit of experience,’ said Stendel of tomorrow’s match.
‘On the other, you need young players like Euan Henderson or Lewis Moore, who think: “It doesn’t matter, I do it. I have the power, I like to play”.
‘When you have a good mix and the right moments are on our side, then I think we have a chance, especially at tynecastle.’