Hearts ace discusses 'annoying' injury lay-off and the extra hours he put in to play his part amid title chase
The Irish star is looking to play his part in a big second half of the season at Hearts.
Oisin McEntee has revealed the hard yards he put in at the gym to make himself fit and ready for Hearts’ title fight.
The versatile Irishman has impressed at Tynecastle this season since joining from English Football League side Walsall. A groin injury was picked up ahead of a Premiership game against Livingston in early January and the midfielder missed almost a month of action after featuring in December’s Edinburgh derby defeat against Hibs, returning against Celtic for a 2-2 draw.
Amid absences for Cammy Devlin, Beni Baningime and Ageu’s steady journey towards full fitness and match sharpness, the ex-Newcastle United talent pushed himself in the gym to ensure availability. He wasn’t keen on letting teammates or Hearts down and after playing 90 minutes last week against St Mirren, is feeling back to normal, ahead of the latest clash versus Hibs this Tuesday.
Oisin McEntee on Hearts injury problem
McEntee explained: ”It was annoying to get injured before the Livingston game. I just had to work really hard to get back as quick as possible and touch wood, my body hasn't reacted badly to it,. Playing 90 minutes Saturday and 90 minutes last Tuesday, it feels good. I think that definitely did play a part because you don't want to let your teammates down or the club down.
“So it was definitely hard work to get back but I got back. The physio team were brilliant, the rehab side of things was really good and yeah I just got back out. Celtic I think I got 20 minutes or something and no problems. It was just one of them injuries that I could do as much running as I wanted to but if I struck a ball then that's when it would have popped but thankfully it didn't. It was just pushing myself hard in the gym and I was in every day doing bits. I had no real days off since the injury just to do that bit extra to try and get back quicker."
McEntee is more than just a midfield option, with the ability to play right-back or centre-back if head coach Derek McInnes requires, and he’s happy to play wherever he’s need. He said: “I think every team needs to have a big squad and players that are ready to come in and I think we've showed that. That we have such a talented squad of players, people that haven't been making teams and have been coming in and proving themselves and showing how good they really are.
"I think that's just been my whole career really so I'm used to playing type of, just anywhere really if the manager needs me to play there I don't really mind where I play. Probably centre midfield (his preference of position) but I'm comfortable doing whatever the team ask me to do."
Hearts vs Hibs preview
McEntee has felt the best and worst of this derby so far. A 1-0 win against Hibs last time out at Tynecastle showed him the highs Edinburgh’s big rivalry could bring while disappointing lows were found in defeat in Leith. With Rangers at Ibrox next for the league leaders after this, McEntee is keen to make a derby impression.
He added: "I'd say it's going to be intense, it's huge around the city. Obviously there's so many fans, you're either one or the other and everyone's looking forward to it. I think it's just like every derby. Every derby is going to be massive for both teams, especially where we both are in the league and points are there to be won.
“The first one obviously we won and it was huge and I never really experienced a win like that. It was a massive day, my family were over and then the second one obviously didn't go our way, so that was tough, but it's definitely a lot more emotion in it. People around Hearts and the club would let all the new lads know and it was important because there were a lot of new lads in and it was important for all of us to know how big the derby was.
“I think it's similar to every derby where it's going to be just chaos for the first 20 minutes. It might be chaos for the full 90 minutes but it's just about holding your composure but also winning that battle. All your little individual battles that go on throughout the game and yeah, it's going to be edgy and stuff like that, but you just have to get over that really. I think every week from now to the end of the season will define it. Every game is like a cup final because you want to get as many points on the board before the end of the season. I wouldn't just look at this week and isolate it into one week but yeah, every week is really important."