Ex-Hibs striker Jason Cummings relishing coming 'home' to Tynecastle with Dundee

Jason Cummings has not scored at Tynecastle since he inspired a Hibs comeback that ultimately ended in Scottish Cup glory at Hampden.

Jason Cummings celebrates after scoring in Dundee's 2-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Tuesday. He has three goals in three starts for the Dens Park club (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

That goal was just over five years ago and helped earn his then team a second chance at Easter Road after the 2-2 fifth round draw. Cummings also struck the winner in the replay and the rest is history with Hibs overcoming Rangers to win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 114 years.

While Cummings has scored against Hearts since – at Ibrox, while on loan at Rangers – he has not played at Tynecastle since an Edinburgh derby when the teams were drawn together again at the same stage the following season. Again, it went to a replay with Hibs once more emerging victors.

That was just over four years ago, so Cummings is certainly due a visit to a stadium that once loomed so large in his life. He is also due a goal there – or so Hearts fans might fear – as he prepares to return to Gorgie with Dundee on Saturday.

Jason Cummings' last goal at Tynecastle - for Hibs in a 2-2 Scottish Cup fifth round draw against Hearts in February 2016

The in-form Cummings will lead the Dens attack as James McPake’s side seek to further improve their chances of sealing a play-off place with a win against the leaders. “I love playing at Tynecastle,” said Cummings. “I used to play there when I was a wee boy. I used to go to Tynecastle High School and we used to sneak on there so it is like my home ground. I am used to it. I look forward to playing there.

“Obviously before I signed for Dundee, I looked at the Hearts fixture. It is always a tasty one for me. So I will be buzzing. My whole family will be looking forward to it – they are all Hearts fans as well.”

Cummings now has three goals in three starts for Dundee since joining in January from Shrewsbury with the latest coming in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He is relishing the prospect of this weekend’s trip to Tynecastle even if the near-deserted stadium will be more reminiscent of his schoolboy trespassing adventures than previous Edinburgh derbies he has experienced.

“It will be different,” he said. “Normally Tynecastle is one of the best stadiums in Scotland for atmosphere. That will probably be a positive for us.

“We know it will be a tough one, with where they are in the league – they are the best team in the league from the evidence of the league table. But we are going down there to get the three points.”

While he admits he loves a goal against Hearts, he realises as he gets older – he is now 25 – that the priority is winning. “I just want to score in every game I play in,” he said. “It does not matter if it is Hearts or Inverness. It is another game for me, another chance to get on the scoresheet. But I get more joy out of the three points these days.”

He feels no responsibility to avenge Dundee’s 6-2 defeat at Tynecastle on the opening night of the season. “That has nothing to do with me that. You should probably ask the other boys (about that). That does not affect me, to be fair.”

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