Driven Jordan Roberts reveals the reason why he has struggled at Hearts

If Craig Gordon was Hearts’ marquee summer signing, Jordan Roberts certainly arrived with considerable pedigree from Ipswich Town.
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Capturing an England C internationalist from a reputable British club sparked interest from fans punch-drunk after their club’s disputed relegation and subsequent legal battle.

Roberts, 26, joined as a free agent after Ipswich chose not to invoke their 12-month extension option in his contact. The winger was handed the No.11 shirt at Tynecastle Park but has yet to justify the pre-season hype. There is good reason for that.

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A persistent groin problem is still hindering him, forcing him to manage his workload in training each week. He cuts a frustrated figure and is desperate to see the injury cured as soon as possible.

Jordan Roberts says he won't look for excuses at Hearts.Jordan Roberts says he won't look for excuses at Hearts.
Jordan Roberts says he won't look for excuses at Hearts.

He played as a substitute in Saturday’s dispiriting Betfred Cup loss at Alloa and acknowledged the criticism he and his colleagues are enduring as a result.

He wants to showcase his full ability without feeling inhibited, although he doesn’t offer the injury as any kind of excuse.

Managing load during the week

“I’ve been a bit up and down with injury, coming in and out,” Roberts told the Evening News.

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“I’m managing my load through the week and I’m just trying to settle as soon as possible. There’s competition with other wingers and I’ve had some injuries, but there are no excuses.

“Whether you are starting or coming off the bench, you have to do a job. Everyone has a strong mentality in the changing room and there are good characters around.

“What I do depends on the structure of the week and the games we have. I feel good in myself. Obviously the astro doesn’t help in terms of running about with my injury, but I go out there and try to do my best.

“Playing for a big club like Hearts, you have to go out there and give it your all. I’m going out to train and look ahead to Morton this week. Everyone will go there full of confidence.

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“It will be pretty much the same conditions as Saturday. Bouncing back is the major thing for us.”

‘I don’t want to start digging out excuses’

The key question is: When does he expect to be 100 per cent? “I hope it’s as soon as possible. I try to train as hard as I can during the week and then take each game as it comes. I want to get off the mark by scoring first, and also have more involvement in the game.

“I don’t want to start digging out excuses. Everyone is out there on the pitch to do a job. My job is to go out there, work hard, assist when I can and hopefully open my scoring account.”

It would perhaps be natural were Roberts concerned about worsening his injury. A fragile groin can go at any moment, sidelining a footballer for several weeks.

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Hearts have a Scottish Cup final against Celtic in less than three weeks so now is not the time to climb onto the Riccarton treatment table.

“I don’t think you really think about the cup final on Saturday because it’s still a few weeks away. Sometimes you might stretch for a ball or jump and then you feel it, so then it will be in the back of your head.”

Tynecastle opportunity

Hearts will hope the issue subsides before their date at Hampden Park on December 20. Such occasions are the reason Roberts returned to Scotland after a previous spell at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

“It wasn’t really a plan I came here with,” he explained. “It was more the opportunity, the structure of the club, how big the club is and getting it back to where it should be. It’s a cliché saying that but the boys all know it and so does everyone in the city.

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“I’m grateful for the opportunity here. Since I’ve come in, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and there’s a great bunch of lads in the dressing room.

“Edinburgh is a great city, we have a great manager and Hearts is a great club. Everyone is behind us. I know the fans can’t be here at the moment but I know they’re watching at home.”

They were watching at the weekend as their club crashed out of the Betfred Cup against part-time opponents. “I look back on the game and my own performance and try to reflect on where I could be better and what I can do to improve,” said Roberts.

“It [the result] will dwell on the minds of many of us but it’s done now. Credit to Alloa, they’ve gone through. We now have two important league games and then we go to Hampden Park, where everybody needs to be on their ‘A’ game against Celtic.”

Recovering from Alloa

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A Hearts player for only a few months, Roberts already knows the stinging criticism that such a cup exit generates. “We will take the hits that come and look to bounce back as soon as possible.

“It happens in every division all over the country. You’re at a big club, you need to enjoy the highs and, when the lows come, take the hits.

“Players go out there to produce and if you’re not doing it you expect to take a little bit of criticism. The lads are all mentally strong and we all know the job in store.

“Everyone is disappointed. We played so well against Alloa last Tuesday and we had chances to win the game on Saturday. It doesn’t matter about the surface.

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“A team like us, there’s pressure on us and targets on our back. We should be looking to get to the next round so we will pick ourselves up and bounce back.”

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