CONOR CRAVING A GORGIE GOAL SPREE
Sammon hopes to hit the ground running at Tynecastle and blossom in Scotland again
CONOR SAMMON has scored in the English top flight, represented the Republic of Ireland nine times, been transferred for £1.2million and played for five years down south, but he does not hesitate to nominate his last season in Scotland as the most satisfying period of his career. And it all began to blossom one Sunday afternoon at Tynecastle.
The 29-year-old is set to make his Hearts home debut on Thursday when Europa League qualifying kicks off against FC Infonet from Estonia. New beginnings and perhaps a flicker of happy memories for the striker.
Sammon earned a £500,000 move to Wigan Athletic in 2010/11 on the back of an 18-goal campaign for a team of entertainers created by Mixu Paatelainen. A 3-0 victory away to Hearts was the start of a streak of 14 league matches with just two defeats for Kilmarnock, Sammon scoring for fun with help from a midfield boasting Alexei Eremenko, Liam Kelly and Craig Bryson.
The Irishman admits he did not find Gorgie too welcoming as a rival player. Few visitors do. Yet Sammon has returned to Scotland hoping that, in Hearts and Robbie Neilson’s plans, he has found an environment that will enable him to recapture that level of scoring production and fulfilment for the first time since he headed for Lancashire in January 2011.
‘My most successful period was in my last season at Kilmarnock under Mixu,’ stated Sammon. ‘He came in and really transformed the way we were playing, got us passing out from the back and gave us loads of confidence. We really played football as opposed to being more physical and playing on the counter.
‘My strengths are I’m a strong, powerful runner who enjoys playing on the last man. I like to peel off centre-halves to get in behind them to get chances on goal. I want to create space for my team-mates. So it’s exciting coming to a new team, trying to bring what I’ve got to the side and create an understanding with the other players.
‘That’s already been happening in the first week and it will just get better when we start playing games and they come thick and fast. I’ve always enjoyed playing at Tynecastle because it is such a passionate sort of crowd who obviously love their club and are very proud of the history of the club and how the club wants to play and move forward.
‘I’ve had a bit of stick there as well which, as an opposition player, you tend to get. My fondest memory was my time at Kilmarnock when we went there and beat them 3-0. I scored that day so it’s quite nice to know I’ve already done that.
‘But I’m looking forward to getting some goals in a Hearts jersey and start creating memories for me as a Hearts player. The European game has been moved, so we have the first leg at home. That’s even better for me, getting an opportunity to play at Tynecastle for Hearts so soon.’
Before banking a lucrative English Premier League transfer, Sammon wisely rejected one of the first offers on the table to double his money — Championship side Scunthorpe. Two games and another two goals later, Roberto Martinez swooped and Sammon soon made his topflight debut for Wigan at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City. That option was too good to turn down. However, he hopes young talent such as Jamie Walker, Sam Nicholson and Callum Paterson will stick around to help him hoist Hearts further up the Ladbrokes Premiership table this season rather than be seduced by the first offer from the south. ‘I went down to Scunthorpe but felt it wasn’t the right move,’ he recalled. ‘I didn’t feel I had to jump at it because it was there in front of me. Looking back, I’m pleased about that. You have to make sure it’s right in every area because the grass isn’t always greener.
‘Especially when you are at a club like Hearts, where it’s a big club with great facilities, a great fan base and a good stadium. So, there are so many things going for you here. I think that with my experience, from moving to England and picking up pointers, I can help the younger lads.
‘Several are a similar age to what I was when I left Kilmarnock. I was ambitious, I wanted to play at the highest level I could and be the best player I could be. The one thing I would say to anyone is that you have to make sure it’s the right time and place to move on to — if that’s what you’re going to do.’
Neilson’s young Scots are well accustomed to the demanding training schedules that have aided Hearts to a second-tier title then an impressive third-place finish last term. Sammon, who has spent loan periods with Sheffield United, Ipswich and Rotherham in recent seasons, has discovered a Hearts pre-season to be right up his street.
‘Before I came here I spoke to the manager and got a vibe how demanding he is, what he expects from his players and I’ve no problem with that,’ said Sammon. ‘I’m a player who enjoys getting stuck in, enjoys the roll-up-your-sleeves thing and really working as part of a team.
‘I’ve always been coached and brought up to be the first line of defence. That’s something I’ll be looking to bring to Hearts, to help my team-mates and to keep pushing each other. The intensity has been really good. I love that sort of challenge of going into training every day knowing you’re going to be pushed so hard.’