SETTING TARGETS

fans loved to hate due to his football contributions. While he struggled to get all the game time he wanted, he did showcase his ability, popping up with vital goals to seal league titles and settle key clashes.

With all that in mind, he may have been advised to steer clear of a return north of the border after his time at Norwich City came to an end. There was scope to do that but, having chosen to buy into Ian Cathro’s vision for Hearts, he says he is a more mature version of his former self.

“I had a lot of options,” said Lafferty. “I was surprised by the number of clubs that were interested in me. I could have made a lot more money going abroad. But my house is here, my family are here and there are good football reasons too. It felt right. I want to get playing football, scoring and being happy again. I want to take my country to the World Cup and put silverware in this new stadium. I’m joining a top team in Scotland and I’ve got a chance to put things right. Not many people get a chance to put things right and I’ve got a chance to do that. I’m at Hearts to prove people wrong.

“I have definitely matured.

KYLE LAFFERTY I’ve learned there’s a time and a place to be the class clown. When you cross that white line you roll your sleeves up and do everything for your teammates. That’s what I’ve been doing and with the national team I am in a place where everyone believes in me and I have responded with good performances and goals.”

Handed the Hearts No 9 shirt, he accepts the weight of responsibility that comes with that. At Rangers he was used to things being black and white. Wins were demanded, strikers were expected to score and hostility had to be accepted. Things were rarely more intense than in Old Firm clashes and trips to Tynecastle.

“My Tynecastle memories are absolutely awful. I always thought: ‘Oh Christ, I think I will have a sore hamstring that week.’ It’s an awful place for an opposition team to play.

“I remember scoring a freekick and making it 1-1 and I made the mistake of running too close to the Hearts fans. I was pelted with bottles, coins, everything – I’m sure a granny even threw her false teeth at me! But I’m here because of the history of the club and how passionate the fans are. If I go out and do as well as I can and score goals and help the team I’m sure I will get on very well with the fans.

“It was a terrible place to come and try to play football even with 17,000 people here, so an extra 3,000 people will make it even worse for away teams. To have those fans right behind us is going to push the team. I can’t wait for the first home game of the season to hear them in full voice and I want to repay the fans, the coaching staff and the team by scoring goals.” Israeli international goalkeeper Ofir Marciano claims he has returned to Hibs a far better player thanks to his season on loan at Easter Road.

Protracted negotiations finally resulted in Marciano clinching a fouryear deal with the capital side with, it is understood, a fee of around €150,000 being agreed with FC Ashdod in his homeland where he had 12 months remaining on his contract.

He becomes boss Neil Lennon’s fourth signing of the summer so far following the earlier arrivals of Danny Swanson, Efe Ambrose and Simon Murray. Marciano, capped 11 times by his country, revealed he had been determined to return to Scotland, describing last season as “an amazing experience”.

He said: “It’s not been easy but I am happy that we got it done – finally.”

The 27-year-old admitted he didn’t know what to expectwhenhefirstarrived in Edinburgh last summer, his debut delayed for three weeks as the necessary red tape was cleared, but he disclosed both he and his professional model wife Shelly had set their hearts on coming back.

He said: “When I first arrived it was hard. I didn’t really know what Hibs

0 Ofir Marciano has signed a four-year contract at Easter Road. meant but when I played here I saw everything. It was an amazing experience to play in front of the fans every week, a privilege.

“I wanted to become a better player when I came here and I thought I did. That’s the reason I wanted to come back to Hibs to be a better player again.”

Having helped Hibs clinch the Championship title and promotion to the Premiership, Marciano admitted he was looking forward to playing his part in their return to the top flight of Scottish football, adamant he wasn’t going to be drawn into any rash predictions as to what the coming season might hold.

He said: “I try not to think too far ahead. I try to focus on preparation to be fit physically and mentally throughout the season. I’m not so sure you want to be top of the table after the first game but we’ll work hard and try to win every game.”

Marciano admitted he was relishing the early start the Betfred Cup will bring for Hibs with their first match against Montrose a fortnight on Saturday following pre-season friendlies against Dunfermline, Sunderland and Berwick Rangers.

He said: “Every football player wants to play. It’s good to have the vacation, to relax. But I started to feel I wanted to be back playing football. I’ll be working hard in preseason and throughout what, hopefully, will be a successful season.”

Marciano’s wife recently revealed the couple are expecting their first child, leading him to say: “This is going to be the best thing in my life, I cannot say more than that. I am thankful to God for this gift.”

“I don’t want to be known as the player who ignored Hibs, I want to be known as the guy who scored 20-25 goals, winning the first trophy in the new stand”