MacLean reckons Uche can muscle his way to the top
POWER PLAY: Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu boasts plenty of strength
STEVEN MacLEAN would far rather accompany his hulking strike partner Uche Ikpeazu into the video analysis room than any exercise suite after training. ‘When Uche is in the gym, we all just stay out the way,’ explains MacLean. ‘Just in case anyone starts comparing! He could lift me a few times over — he’s a unit, a monster.’
Avoiding any body shaming, however, is not the real reason MacLean prefers spending time studying film with his colleague to matching him at the weights.
Far more important is that the 36-year-old veteran relishes his role helping finesse and fine-tune Ikpeazu’s game.
Manager Craig Levein sees MacLean as ideal mentor for the Englishman, who has signed a new Hearts contract until 2022.
Committed to the player as a long-term project, there are rough edges to be smoothed out and bundles of improvement to be eked from Ikpeazu’s raw ability.
Since MacLean figured out he is working with a keen listener, the ex-St Johnstone forward is thrilled to be tasked with helping.
Harnessing Ikpeazu’s natural talent with what he’s now learning at a top-six Premiership team is an exciting prospect.
For MacLean recognises that the more games in which Ikpeazu is unplayable compared to unwieldly, Hearts will profit now — and in the future when potentially cashing in on a top prospect.
MacLean said: ‘He’s so big and strong and quick that if he can just fine-tune there’s no reason why he can’t make a really good career for himself.
‘It’s easy to forget he’s just turned 24, so he’s still young and inexperienced. He’s not played a massive number of games.
‘Signing the new deal and tying down an asset is great for the club, so hopefully he can kick on.
‘If he can just keep working the way he is just now and get better at the things he needs to, then put it on top of what he’s good at... he can go to the top.’
From MacLean’s experience in the English lower leagues with Plymouth, Oxford and Scunthorpe, he can understand why Ikpeazu stood out for Cambridge United and attracted Hearts. But the bruising striker was only ever utilised as a target man for what is so often a long game in League Two.
That was identified as a waste of talent by Hearts coach Jon Daly, persuading Levein to swoop last summer and secure the striker on a free transfer.
However, it means Ikpeazu is undergoing a tough learning curve when paired with seasoned strikers MacLean or Steven Naismith.
‘He’s got a lot of learning to do,’ explained MacLean. ‘Until he came here, he never played in a two up front before.
‘He was used as a battering ram, probably, whereas now he’s learning how you need to move as a two because he never understood. He’s played up front as a one and not learned how to press, when to press and why you do it. ‘It’s up to him as well to try to make himself not that one-dimensional a player.
‘I played with Kenwyne Jones who’s maybe a bit taller than Uche but not as strong as him — or wide, or ripped. I see similar things with them.’
An obscure foot injury derailed Ikpeazu’s season in September after he had scored four goals and shown himself to be a nightmare handful for defences.
He returned in early February and is still searching for his first goal in seven games.
Steven Naismith is a huge doubt to appear again for Hearts this season as he is set for knee surgery after returning to parent club Norwich.
That is a major blow to Hearts’ hopes of reaching the European places and advancing to the Scottish Cup Final.
MacLean and Ikpeazu will likely form a partnership again when Partick Thistle visit Tynecastle for Tuesday’s quarter-final replay with a last four clash against Inverness Caley Thistle the inviting reward.
‘We wanted to take care of the first game at Firhill but didn’t. So we won’t be complacent,’ stated MacLean.
‘Of course, the semi-final draw has given an incentive. It’s the one we all wanted. But we can’t look past this and you have to remember it’s an incentive for both teams.’