Hearts star has cup craving and 'amazing' international honour in sight as Tynecastle responsibility increases
The Hearts midfielder is set for heightened responsibility in Wouter Vrancken’s team.
Tomas Magnusson insists he’s ready to become a midfield regular at Hearts - and is open to international recognition.
Magnusson is one of two fit players in the engine room currently with injuries to Ageu, Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud. Oisin McEntee has also picked up a minor knock and Finlay Pollock remains out through long-term absence, putting added responsibility on Magnusson alongside summer signing Laurent Mendy.
With a clash against Stenhousemuir in a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final to come on Friday, the Icelander is relishing an increased role with playing style changing under Wouter Vrancken from previous head coach Derek McInnes.
Tomas Magnusson on role at Hearts
He said: “I'm excited for that. Obviously, it's a bad one for Blair, but by that happening, me and Laurent can build that connection. We've now played a game together, I think, one or two, but it's just playing together, gelling, knowing each other's traits. He came a month ago maybe now. I'm excited.
“We've been asked way different things than we were last season. The manager comes in with a different style and has his angle and takes on football. You've got to just take that in and follow his philosophies. It's really good, I think, for myself and I think I speak for a lot of the boys. Seeing this angle of style of play, his takes on it, it's just good off the back of last season where it's a completely different style. So, having all of that in the locker is just really good.”
Exposure playing for a top Premiership club currently in the league phase of the Conference League could provide Magnusson the platform to perform for his country. He didn’t play for Iceland at youth level, and he’s unsure if anyone from the senior set-up has been watching his progress at Hearts, but such a call would be warmly received.
Magnusson explained: “I mean, hopefully. I don't know. Hopefully I'm in the picture there. If that ever comes about, that's amazing. I haven't been there but that would be an honour.”
What would Hearts cup win mean for Tomas Magnusson?
The 24-year-old is looking forward to the game on Ochilview’s plastic surface, and having been part of the Hearts side that almost won the Premiership last season, he knows how much a trophy would mean to those in Gorgie. He added ahead of facing Stenhousemuir: “We were just shy of it last season. What was it, 10 minutes or so? So, getting that cup as soon as possible would obviously be good for the club and the fans.
“We owe ourselves and the fans a good run in the cups as we got knocked out of them in the first games last season. It would do a lot for me, personally. I need to get a cup under my belt, I think. But I know it would be good if we get that win and play at Hampden. That's a good one in itself.
“They'll be hard to beat, I think so. We've seen they're a strong, disciplined team defensively, so it'll be a challenge, definitely. Astro isn't everyone's preference, but everyone's played on astro, I think. We've got a lot of foreigners, so we maybe don't know what we're heading into, which is good. But at the end of the day, you can't make excuses, it's just a game of football. Everyone should be up for it.”
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