Hearts captain Steven Naismith reveals why he is out to make history this season

Steven Naismith is a picture of calm assurance as he analyses a crucial next few months in his career.
Hearts captain Steven Naismith still has strong international ambitions.Hearts captain Steven Naismith still has strong international ambitions.
Hearts captain Steven Naismith still has strong international ambitions.

Hearts have a Scottish Cup final on the horizon and a league title to win before a potentially career-defining moment for the forward next summer.

Naismith is praying Scotland overcome Serbia in Belgrade on Thursday to reach the European Championship finals. If so, he fully intends on being there at the age of 34.

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Playing in the Scottish Championship won’t stop him. He has already held that conversation with national coach Steve Clarke. What he requires is an extended period of time without injury to play regularly and score goals at club level.

Clarke recalled Naismith’s team-mate Craig Gordon for this month’s international triple header, proving he won’t overlook Hearts players simply because of second-tier football.

The incentive for Naismith is clear, then: Fit and in form, he can regain his Scotland place and perhaps get the chance to make history if Scotland make their first major tournament since 1998.

Give him a headache

"As the years have gone on, that's been the incentive for myself,” he told the Evening News in an exclusive interview. “There comes a point when you aren't going to be picked any more, but until that moment I think next summer is still a realistic opportunity for myself.

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"All I can do is play well and give the [Scotland] manager a headache. The manager said to me way back when everything was happening [during the summer] that he goes more by the player. He understands the player, their mentality and what they can bring.

"I'm confident that, no matter where I'm playing, if I'm doing well enough and I'm good enough then he will pick me.

"For myself and Craig, these [Scotland] games were always going to be tough. You had to be playing every minute of every game and playing well.

"Fortunately for Craig, he's been doing that. For myself, I probably haven't had enough game time. If I'm called upon at any point, I'll be ready as always.”

Finding sharpness

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Fitness and sharpness are improving as a hamstring complaint eases. Naismith started his first league game on Saturday, scoring the opening goal and helping create the second in Hearts’ 2-1 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He will be involved tonight when the Edinburgh club visit East Fife on Betfred Cup business. "I'm getting there, it's just about lasting the games,” he explained.

"The more you play, the sharper you get. I contributed to both goals at the weekend – scored one and was involved in the move for the other. In that respect, I'm feeling good.

"It's just about building the momentum and consistency for myself. The more weeks I train and the more I'm involved in matches, the sharper I'll get.”

Awkward and sloppy

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His understanding with the Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce is improving. Boyce also found the net at the weekend but is now in Belfast hoping to help his country reach the same European Championship.

Hearts are preoccupied with trying to break down East Fife if patience is needed once again. "I thought we were sloppy in the first half against Inverness,” admitted Naismith.

"That first 45 minutes is exactly what we are going to come up against. That's the biggest challenge. Teams are going to come to Tynecastle and make it awkward but we need to be patient.

"In the first half we were very forceful. We played two passes and then we're trying to score. We got Inverness pinned back in the second half and got the goals. We passed and moved and created chances we were 95 per cent likely to score from.

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"When you've got a guy like Boyce, he's going to score. We need to learn to be patient enough to do that more. On top of that, we weren't clever enough to see the game out [after losing a goal to Aaron Doran]. You defend deeper and deeper and end up on the edge of your 18-yard box.”

No seed of doubt

Hearts beat Cowdenebath 1-0 at Methil last month in their Betfred Cup section. Another victory this evening will take them through to the knockout phase as a seeded team – and maintain an encouraging 100 per cent record in all competitions.

"The one comfort we've got is that we've been there this season, so you know what it will be like. We know about the surface,” said Naismith.

"We've worked hard to get the results we needed in this competition. Not needing to go there and get a result gives you a bit more composure, I would say.

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"We have a lot of boys who need game time. If there are a few knocks and bruises then the boys coming in will be saying: 'I want to prove I should be in the team.'”

Weekend off

Thereafter, there is time for some respite before the next league match at Dunfermline a week on Friday. A weekend off will give those who have played frequently a chance to recuperate.

"It's not really rest I'm needing at the moment, it's just consistent training,” said Naismith with a wry smile.

“We've got our schedule for between now and Dunfermline. There are a couple of rest days for everybody but when we are training, it will be about building up.

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"It will be building up the consistency of the short, sharp running, and for me being able to last the 90 minutes is important.”

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Hearts lose three players for East Fife match

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