Never a Halliday in battle
Andy Halliday wouldn’t be happy at Rangers if he’d lost a game of five-a-sides in training.
And current Ibrox star Ryan Jack insists that type of winning mentality is a reason why Hearts will be the closest team to the Old Firm again come May.
He was a team-mate of Halliday’s for three years at Ibrox before the midfielder moved to Tynecastle in 2020.
The 31-year- old is a key part of Robbie Neilson’s squad who look certain to f inish third in the Premiership for a second season on the spin.
Jack is sure Halliday’s influence – and experience of playing at Ibrox – has rubbed off on the Jambos.
That’s why he expects them to finish best of the rest once again.
And it’s also why he knows Michael Beale’s men will get
one of their toughest tests of the campaign in Gorgie on Wednesday night.
Ahead of the mouthwatering clash at Tynecastle, Jack said: “Andy going there, with his mentality, will have helped them, 100 per cent.
“Andy played here for a number of years and down in England. But especially at Rangers, every day Andy wanted to win.
“In a small-sided game at training, he’d want to win. In a possession game, he wanted to win. It’s just ingrained in him.
“And I know he’ll have a massive influence on their changing room in terms of knowing how to win.
“He’ ll be letting them know what’s coming on Wednesday.
“And he’ll also know that if Hearts want to succeed and win stuff in future, they have to compete with ourselves and Celtic.
“It’s in Hearts’ hands to finish third for two seasons on the trot. They’re playing good football and have a very good team.
“So we know they’re tough to play against.
“But if you want to do well at Rangers and achieve things, you need to go to places like Tynecastle and get points.”