Can Neilson and Jambos achieve their goals in 2023?
WOULD FIFTH PLACE be seen as
an acceptable finishing position for this Hearts side in May? No, is the simple answer.
That is where the Jambos currently sit in the cinch Premiership after the Scottish top-flight broke for the World Cup in Qatar and on the whole, Hearts have to be happy with that.
At times this season, Hearts have had almost a full starting 11 on the treatment table and it is testament to the players remaining on the field that they sit where they do in the table.
It is easy to look at the draws against Kilmarnock and Livingston and say Hearts should be winning those games but coming from behind on both occasions, after tough midweek matches against Fiorentina and Rangers highlights the spirit this Hearts team has.
Make no mistake those two points could be very important come May. Yes, there have been performances this season that haven’t been up to scratch, but Robbie Neilson and his players don’t need to be told of the high standards they set last season.
A hard-fought victory against Riga in their final Europa Conference League home match netted the club an estimated £450,000, but the three points Hearts picked up in
Dingwall less than 72 hours later could be worth just as much.
That result was up there with a
3-2 home victory over Motherwell, in which Hearts played over half the match with ten men, and Josh Ginnelly’s 97th minute equaliser against Livingston in the final match before the break.
Those two results mean Hearts can relax and recover during their holiday period safe in the knowledge that if they hit the ground running when the Premiership resumes, they have every chance of securing third spot for the second consecutive season.
Alongside injury issues, Hearts’ fixture list prior to the World Cup was not particularly favourable. Having already played Celtic and Rangers four times this season, as well as an extra game away from Tynecastle, it means Hearts have the potential opportunity to immediately start eating into Aberdeen’s four-point lead in third spot.
Centre back duo, Craig Halkett and Kye Rowles returned to action in the final games before the break. As Hearts continue to get players back these players will only improve on the field, again increasing Hearts’ chances of kicking on to secure third place and, with a bit more work, some more European football in 2023.