Hearts’ Kio aims to make a name for himself

HE IS the new Hearts No 8 who knows he won’t become a fully-fledged household name even if he scores a hat-trick against Rangers today on his Tynecastle debut. Orestis Kiomourtzoglou’s surname is so tricky to spell that the holding midfielder jokes even he struggles to get it right. To make it easier, the 24-year-old German will play with simply Kio on the back of his jersey. But the tough-tackling recent £350,000 signing from Dutch side Heracles believes he has the physical attributes to show up well against the established big names in Scottish football. ‘Nobody calls me Kiomourtzoglou. It is quite a long name,’ he smiled. ‘It’s a little bit difficult to spell, even for me. ‘The first time when I was in my apartment in Scotland I had to fix my Wi-Fi and I had to spell my name for the guy and it was quite difficult. ‘Most guys call me Kio and some guys call me Orestis. Whatever is best for them is fine. I listen to everything. But on my shirt is Kio. It will also save the fans money not getting my full name on the back! ‘This game against Rangers will be my first home match but I’ve sat in the crowd for games this season. ‘Here the fans celebrate and scream for every tackle. It’s really different to football in the Netherlands. ‘In the Netherlands, they want to see really good dribbles and nice goals. Of course they want to see that in Scotland too but if you win the ball in midfield and play the ball forward, then the crowd cheers. That does not happen in the Netherlands. Here the fans live football. ‘I think this type of football is best for me. I am a guy who likes to run and tackle and scream. The game in Scotland will be good for me.’ Kiomourtzoglou (right) had been unable to play or train with his new team-mates after signing in August due to a Home Office delay on approving a visa to work in the UK. After making his debut in the 3-0 win at Motherwell last month, he is available for Hearts’ biggest week of the season so far. A two-goal win over Rangers would see Robbie Neilson’s side leapfrog the Ibrox giants into second place in the Premiership. That would give Hearts huge confidence ahead of Thursday’s visit of Serie A side Fiorentina to Tynecastle in the Europa Conference League. ‘For sure, these are the kind of games I came to Hearts to play in,’ he said. ‘Everyone is looking forward to these games. We are playing at home, so we have quite a good chance to win. ‘We have talked about Rangers with the coaches and the manager and I know them from seeing them in the Champions League. ‘They didn’t do so good in their last game (losing 3-0 at home to Napoli) and after us they play Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, so they will have pressure on their shoulders. ‘It’s a big game for us. If we win, it will send a signal. It will be good if we can do that. ‘Our self-confidence will be much higher for Thursday if we win.’ A former Germany Under-21 international, Kiomourtzoglou aims to draw on his previous big-match experience when he faces Rangers and Fiorentina. ‘In the Netherlands I played against teams like Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV, and AZ Alkmaar,’ he added. ‘The first goal I scored in the Netherlands was in Feyenoord’s De Kuip Stadium when we drew 1-1. So I know what it is like to play against big teams and big players. ‘When I am on the pitch I just want to win. I would like to make a name for myself here in Scotland’. Kiomourtzoglou may never fully catch on. But Kio’s attempt to make his mark in Scottish football continues today with a 12.30pm kick-off at Tynecastle.