Naismith has welcomed a number of long and medium term injury absentees back this week.
Steven Naismith has warned his Hearts stars he’s not worried about becoming Mr Unpopular now that a host of long-term absentees are back pushing for starting spots.
The return of Craig Gordon and Craig Halkett to the bench against Rangers on Wednesday – 50 weeks after both suffered brutal Christmas Eve injuries last year – gave Jambos fans a huge pre-match boost. Both are now targeting a spot in the starting XI while Barrie McKay also made a first appearance since August as a late substitute against Rangers and Nat Atkinson was thrown in from the start having not featured since September.
It’s not all been positive news this week for Naismith with Cammy Devlin now facing a month out with an ankle issue. But the Tynecastle boss is relishing his bolstered squad driving competition for places – even if he knows he’ll have to leave some unhappy at being left out altogether.
“Gone are the days of rolling out the same team all the time and that gets you your win. That plays a part to build momentum but the tactics involved in the games are so refined that its small margins that make big differences.
“It’s good. Probably, subconsciously, it raises the quality in training. Players will be trying to work out the squad, who’s available, how many get into the squad, who am I vying for to be in the squad?
“It definitely brings that laser focus for each individual. It’s a good problem to have as a manager.
“We put Nat Atkinson back in from the start against Rangers. It was a big ask but he’s got good experience and the opportunity to go more offensive at half-time gave us that leeway to take him back out.
“Nat gave his all. He never shied away from anything. He started the season really well, the injury disrupted him, but I expect him to get back to that.”
Devlin and Liam Boyce missed out against Rangers. And Naismith provided an update on the duo saying: “Friday will be a big day for Boycie, we will wait and see. It’s a race against time. Cammy got a scan as a precaution. There’s more damage than he was feeling the day after he came back in. So he is looking at being a month.”
Alex Lowry is another who returns to the squad to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday. The Dons are languishing in 11th – 10 points behind Hearts in third – and Naismith is in no doubt their European exertions have played a big part in their Premiership struggles.
Now he’s urging his Hearts side – surprisingly the third lowest scorers in the top flight – to find their shooting boots and pile on the agony for Barry Robson and his side who he still expects to be competing for third in May.
He said: “It’s been tough for them. I think it’s the demand of European football definitely playing its part. Hearts saw it last season.
“They have got a bigger squad but it’s the mentality side that you need to keep going. For the clubs that don’t have the resources of the Old Firm it’s a much toucher ask. When you’re not then getting results the momentum turns and pressure builds.
“Nowadays it comes much quicker than it used to. That’s the nature of the game and it’s not going to change.
“But I’m pretty sure internally they’ll be a strong bunch that won’t be reactive to the noise. I think Barry as a strong character won’t either.
“Their expectation will be to get third. We just need to concentrate on ourselves. This is a good opportunity to get three more points, stay in third and compete at the top end. This month is about focusing on us and getting the results.
“I feel we have created good chances in a lot of games but just not scored. On Wednesday we had a couple of opportunities where we should have made an extra pass or somebody takes too many touches to get their shot off.
“When I first took over we were good at getting shots off and taking chances.
“We want to do that but I’m pretty comfortable with that because I think we have players here who can score goals and are sharp enough around the box to score goals.As long as we keep winning that will click into action at some point.”
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