Atkinson has a taste for success
HEARTS STAR WANTS MORE GLORY AFTER HIS TROPHIES DOWN UNDER
THE prospect of walking out at Hampden come May might seem pretty distant at Beechwood Park this lunchtime but Nathaniel Atkinson has earned the right to dream.
The 22-year-old has arrived at Hearts with the reputation of being a tenacious defender and one who thrives on the big occasion.
Not only did the man from Tasmania help Melbourne City to their inaugural A-League Championship last season, he scored and delivered a man of the match display in the Grand Final against Sydney FC.
With the coveted Joe Marston medal in his possession for that personal contribution, as well as the two winner’s gongs, the Australia Under-23 internationalist has alighted in Gorgie hooked on the elation of success.
‘It was some day for me,’ he reflected on that 3-1 win last June. ‘It was a tough season as I’d a couple of injuries, so I’d some time off. It was a bit of a race against the clock to get back for the final series and also to get into the Olympics.
‘But once I got there, there were nothing but great memories. I was lucky enough to be the man of the match but also to win trophies. There’s no better feeling than that. Hopefully here we can win a couple more.
‘When you make your professional debut, that’s also a highlight but to win two trophies and get man of the match was probably the highlight of my career. And also to be selected for the Olympic team as well.
‘It was tough to celebrate because Covid was a big thing in Melbourne at the time and nothing was really open. So we just had a big club function with everyone involved with the club. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. Then about a week later we flew to Japan.’
He is a long way from home but feeling increasingly at one with his new environment.
The fact that his compatriot Cammy Devlin is both a friend and a willing chauffeur has helped with the transition.
‘I’ve settled pretty good,’ he added ahead of today’s Scottish Cup tie at Auchinleck Talbot. ‘It’s a bit cold but I’ve put an extra layer on to cope with that. I just got my apartment yesterday, so it’s starting to feel like home.
‘I don’t have a car yet, so Cammy’s been driving me around fortunately. We went to a shopping centre yesterday to get a few necessary things.
‘It’s very important to have someone like Cammy to help me settle in. I’ve known him for about three years now through the junior national teams. We’ve grown quite close.
‘He’s a really good lad. He’s helped me a lot by introducing me to the boys and making me feel like home. It’s been vital.’
The Hearts supporters have taken to Devlin’s all-action style. There is every chance that they will quickly identify with Atkinson’s same level of commitment.
‘I hope to make the same impact as him,’ he added. ‘Cammy throws his body around and dies for the badge every day. I’m the same.
‘I hate to lose. I will try and win at all costs and if that means putting my body on the line, I’ll be sure to do that. I like to attack, take players on but also defend.’
He was well versed on the culture of Scottish football and the rivalry in its capital city before boarding the plane which took him to Europe for the first time.
Former Tynecastle defender Patrick Kisnorbo was his head coach at Melbourne last season. Ben Garuccio and Jamie Maclaren, who’ve both sampled the Edinburgh divide, were team-mates.
‘He (Kisnorbo) said it’s a big club and an aspiring club that wants to get back into Europe,’ explained Atkinson.
‘I was quite close to Maclaren at Melbourne City and he said that the rivalry around here is also very important and that it’s part of the storyline.’
Kick-off: 12.30pm. LIVE on BBC One Scotland. Referee: Greg Aitken.