I was broken Hearted not to get start
Cammy Devlin admits he was devastated to be left out of Hearts’ line-up for their Scottish Cup clash against Celtic.
Despite a raft of injuries at Tynecastle, gaf fer Robbie Neilson benched the little Aussie for the 3- 0 defeat yesterday.
Devlin was thrown on after 65 minutes but by that stage the Jambos were 2- 0 down and heading out.
The combative midfielder revealed he expected to start and was disappointed not to get the nod from his gaffer.
Devl in said: “I was gutted but the manager made his decision.
“He spoke to me on Friday and I just had to respect it.
“I prepared as if I was star t ing because I wanted to make a difference on the pitch.
“I came on and did my best as I always do but as a footballer you want to start matches, especially the big ones.
“This was a quarterfinal and I was bursting to play. I thought I did well on Wednesday against Celtic but it is what it is.
“You have to respect the decision and I always do.” Devlin would have loved the chance to go toe-to-toe again with Socceroos pa l Aaron Mooy, who was superb for Celtic.
Mooy put the Hoops ahead after just two minutes, which gave Hearts a mountain to climb in the tie.
De v l in got to experience the World Cup alongside Mooy in Qatar in December.
He was reluctant to praise him af ter he knocked his side out of the Scottish Cup – but says he looks up to the 32-year-old.
He said: “Aaron is a top player and he showed his class today.
“He has played at the highest level and as a fellow team-mate with the national team I have nothing but admiration for him. I hate saying that when he was on the opposing team.
“But I have grown up watching him in the A- League and then the Premier League and as a fellow Aussie I admire him. He’s a great footballer and a great bloke.
“I just wish we’d got one over him. They are all good players in Celtic’s midfield.
“They are at a big club for a reason, they rise to the big occasion and that is why they are where they are. But I think we’re at a big football club too, a massive one, and I’m lucky to be here.”
There w i l l be no silverware for Neilson’s side after yesterday’s home loss so Devlin claims their sole focus must now be to finish third in the league and secure European f ootball next season.
City rivals Hibs are just f ive points behind but Devlin said: “I just look forward.
“If you look behind then you are probably going to fal l back so just focus on ourselves.
“We are confident with what we have got in the dressing room that we can do a job.
“We want to look at the league now, get third and get in the group stage again because what an experience it was for everybody here.”