Hearts' Andy Irving reveals Daniel Stendel's coaching methods and why he is improving

Hearts teenager Andy Irving is thriving under Daniel Stendel's management

Andy Irving didn’t even make the substitutes’ bench for Daniel Stendel’s first four games as Hearts manager. He finally got a chance against Aberdeen last month. Since then, he has become a midfield linchpin in a team on a four-game unbeaten run. That is no coincidence.

Fans on Twitter this week jokingly referred to Irving, a local lad and a Hearts supporter, as the “Portobello Pirlo”. The comparison underlines the player’s popularity, which rose further during Sunday’s win against Rangers.

The 19-year-old’s repertoire of passes, feints, ball-drags and dribbles saw him stand out against an opposing midfield of Ryan Jack, Steven Davis and Glen Kamara. Irving is enjoying the finest form of his senior career so far because he is fully attuned to Stendel’s demands.

“Partly it’s down to the training and getting to know the manager’s ideas,” he said in an exclusive Evening News interview. “It’s been really good and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

“His coaching is great and he is trying to get the best out of me, as he is with everyone. That’s partly why I’m playing alright. I still think I can improve a lot and I’m pretty sure the manager will get that out of me.”

Intricate details are key to that. Irving is working on his game when Hearts are both in and out of possession. His composure on the ball means he can collect passes from defenders and dictate play. Stendel also wants him sprinting forward to join attacks.

“He talks about the triangle between the central defenders and one of the midfield players. I probably need to think about that more and look at off-the-ball stuff,” said Irving. “When the ball goes long, I also need to think about being on the other side of the striker to win it. That’s the sort of things he speaks to me about.

“I’m trying to put that all into my game and keep it all in my head. It’s a lot of things without the ball and I need to try to work on it. At the end of the day, everything needs improved.”

The teenager is not content with progress over just a few games, albeit rapid progress at that. Should he continue playing consistently over the coming weeks, it will be a major surprise if Irving is not included in the Scotland Under-21 squad for March’s European qualifiers against Croatia and Greece.

“I can only say there is a massive improvement to come,” he stressed. “My aim is to keep playing as many games as possible. That’s how I will get better, learning from mistakes, learning from senior pros, the manager and coaches.”

Relegation fears around Tynecastle Park and Riccarton leave no room for error just now. No-one at either venue needs reminding Hearts remain bottom of the Premiership and are in the fight of their lives. There are, however, plenty signs to encourage notions of survival.

Irving and other youngsters like Euan Henderson and Lewis Moore are learning on the job as Stendel tries to guide his new club to safety. Sunday’s 2-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Steven Naismith and new signing Liam Boyce, was colossal in that sense.

“The manager said: ‘Why can’t we go and give Rangers a game?’ Myself and the rest of the boys firmly believe him when he says that,” revealed Irving.

“It’s totally different with the new manager – different tactics and a different way of playing. It’s just a different set-up and regime and I think the boys have all taken to it really well. We got to know exactly that the manager wants in the two weeks training we had before the Airdrie game in the Scottish Cup.

“There were a lot of double sessions and hard work. I feel it’s starting to pay off.”