Hearts globetrotter Atkinson not for quitting on Euro dream

THE Olympics, the World Cup finals, domestic success and European competition, Nathaniel Atkinson has packed a lot into the last couple of years. The defender is in no mood to allow Hearts’ continental adventure to end this week.

It has been a whirlwind spell for the 24-year-old since ticking off an A-League Grand Final triumph in 2021. Before long he was representing Australia as an Olympian and sealing a move to Scottish football. Lining up against France in Qatar as a fully-fledged Socceroo on the global stage was a dream come true.

The big matches keep coming for the right-back who, after this afternoon’s domestic duties against Dundee, will turn his attentions to Hearts’ European quest in seeking out a return to the Conference League group stage. Trying to overturn this week’s 2-1 home defeat against PAOK will be no mean feat in Greece on Thursday, but Atkinson is full of belief it can be done.

‘I’ve had a lot of experiences now,’ he said. ‘The Olympics and the World Cup and Europe, and we had a Scottish Cup final as well. These are the games you want to play in and they give you something to work towards, because you want to get back in those games and situations.

‘It’s every little boy’s dream to play at a World Cup and you never really think you’re going to get there. It makes all the sacrifices worthwhile.

‘Football moves so quickly that probably two years ago I wouldn’t even have thought about being in the national team at all.

‘Then everything comes so quickly and moving overseas helped that. It’s been an enjoyable journey.

‘They’re all experiences you don’t want to take for granted, because football doesn’t really last that long. These are all things you can hold in your memories and hopefully tell your grandchildren about.

‘This is where the club wants to be, in European football every year, and we’ve still got a good shot at that. It’s up to us on the pitch to get the result. It was disappointing not to at least come away with a draw on Thursday night. We have to go away to Greece this time and hopefully turn it around.’

PAOK’s supporters will make the renowned Toumba Stadium as inhospitable as possible for Hearts. Atkinson believes, however, the Jambos will revel in their surroundings.

‘We’ll relish the atmosphere over there,’ he added. ‘Obviously, Tynecastle is packed out most games. It’ll be a different type of atmosphere over there, probably a lot more hostile.

‘This is what football’s all about.’

First, there is a trip to Dundee.

‘We’ve got that goal of qualifying for Europe set for this season as well,’ said Atkinson. ‘The best way to do that is to get a result up at Dundee.’