Norwegian defender enjoying a more prominent role at Tynecastle

“I was just encouraged to basically play up to my strengths. I think my game suits probably this manager more than what the situation was last year. So I haven't really been told anything more than, ‘play your game,’ and it's worked well.” Christian Borchgrevink is enjoying a Hearts renaissance this season and can’t keep the smile off his face. He is finally getting to show supporters his worth.

Whether it’s right-back or left-back, the Norwegian is proving he can cope with Scottish football after long spells of inactivity last season. Some of that was down to injury, while the rest of the time he struggled to command a place in Derek McInnes’ Hearts team. He only managed eight appearances for the Tynecastle club last term after arriving from Valerenga, none of which came after December. He already has seven outings this season. Borchgrevink feels Wouter Vrancken’s different approach suits him.

“We've had some injuries and I don't mind filling in at left-back,” said the 27-year-old, speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Premiership visit to Falkirk. “With how we play now, we play quite fluid. Even though I don't have a natural left foot, sometimes I can step inside the pitch and we're still able to play. So I didn't mind it at all and kind of enjoyed it as well.

“This is more of what I'm used to from before. So I would rather say last year was the bigger difference for myself. I was coming in, trying to play more of my game, and then understanding that I probably have to change it a bit to be able to play here. I also played wing-back for a while. I'd say this season is more what I'm used to, my DNA, playing as a full-back. So it's basically going back to the roots for me.

“For any footballer, when you end up in a situation where you're left out of the team, everything kind of just spirals down from there. Your own life, going home, your mood is not the same. Being much more involved this season and playing much more makes it easier to come in for training and everything else. It's a huge difference on that level as well.

“I’ve had a lot of people asking me last year what was going on. I think most people thought I was injured for basically the whole year, but no - I had the first injury and then ever since I was just basically left out, which was hard to take. It's been very encouraging from the fans, meeting people out in town and everywhere else, just encouraging me to just keep going and asking what the hell happened last season.”

He feels mentally stronger for the experience of his first year in Scotland. “Definitely. I'd say so. Even though I didn't play as many games as I would have wanted to, I still feel like I adapted a bit. Training with everyone, there are different requirements here, I would say. Last year, how we played as well was kind of, I'd say, maybe the conservative Scottish football on steroids in a way. So you definitely had to do the tough parts and the defensive work properly. I would say that it's also been like a transitional period last year. Even though I didn't play as much as I wanted to, I still learned a lot from it.”

He is now making an impact, none more so than in last month’s UEFA Conference League play-off against Rapid Vienna in Austria. Borchgrevink entered the fray as a substitute left-back and was immense as Hearts fought bravely to win on penalties. One particular block tackle from Borchgrevink prompted an unadulterated moment of pure joy.

“Even though I am an attacking full-back, I grew up as a central defender,” he explained. “My main goal has always been to defend, even though I like going forward, and I play with a lot of emotion. That block was a big moment, of course, in a big situation, in a big game. I couldn't really help myself but celebrate at that moment. I think for the fans and maybe for people watching, that would probably be a moment that would have changed some people's opinion on me, possibly. I don't know.

“I'd say that moment and that game was also just a good picture of showing that I'm comfortable and this is how I want to contribute, basically. Of course, I've watched it back. Probably not as many times as I've watched my previous goals. But it was a good look, yeah.”

Borchgrevink endured an uncertain summer wondering whether Hearts wanted him for the 2026/27 campaign. He was unsure if he would need to move to play more regularly. “I did for a long time. I didn't even know this summer what the situation would be,” he said. “Obviously, I was still happy being here in terms of the club and everything else around. It was more my situation, if they wanted me to play or not. With Del going to Rangers and the new manager coming in, I was also told at the same time that, ‘you will get your chance,’ and I did. Now I'm happy.”