Josh McPake relishes Hearts Conference League chance after career rebuild as Edinburgh derby excitement builds
The former Rangers and St Johnstone player has made an impressive start to life at Hearts.
Josh McPake reckons Hearts are coming to the boil at home and abroad under Wouter Vrancken ahead of Edinburgh derby day with Hibs.
The winger arrived at Tynecastle from Championship winners St Johnstone this summer and faced his old side for the first time on Saturday during a 2-1 Premiership victory in Gorgie. He has rebuilt his career after showing early promise at Rangers, signing for Stirling Albion prior to joining St Johnstone, and now faces matches with Monaco, a Mo Salah-led Trabzonspor and more in the Conference League’s league phase.
Head coach Vrancken’s Hearts progressed to that frontier with a penalty shootout win over Rapid Vienna last Wednesday and ties begin at home to Danish club FC Nordsjaelland next month. Celebrations after the gruelling 120 minutes of play and subsequent spot-kicks were short-lived with Saturday’s home game to consider, but they will stick with McPake indefinitely, as he relishes his special continental chance.
How did Hearts celebrate Conference League progress?
“Not really, no,” said McPake when asked about if there was much spare time for a Conference League celebration. “Not really. The gaffer said we've done really, really well, obviously, pleased for us to get the celebrations in that after a game. Then it's full focus on Saturday and make sure we get the job done. It was amazing. Great result for us as a team and the club in general.
“But obviously, football moves fast. So we're on to the next one, which was Saturday. So, listen, I'm pleased with the last few weeks, to be honest with you, just the way we've been going and what we're trying to do. I think that's evident and I'm very pleased about it. We watched the draw all together on Friday in the canteen when we were having lunch. So, no, listen, obviously, very, very looking forward to it.
“And I hope we can, hopefully they can do something there as well. I think, obviously, I've worked really, really hard to try and get to this point so far. I think I've got more to go as well. So, listen, playing against these type of teams and that level of player is brilliant. It's good to go out and test yourself. It's on to the next one and we'll see how it goes.”
Up next is a first trip to Easter Road with Hearts for McPake. The game will be played on Thursday night and the attacker believes it’ll be a game of high excitement with those in maroon unbeaten in six matches across all competitions,. He also feels he is coming into his own after grabbing an assist while setting up James Wilson for the Jambos’ weekend opener.
Hibs vs Hearts preview
"Obviously it'll be a cracking game,” said McPake. “You watch them all the time. I think it'll be a cracking game, nonetheless, but, listen, it's just the same attitude as we go into every game. Just give it our all and if we impose what we can do, we should have a good time. We knew fine well coming into the domestic games that you need to be at it as well because St. Johnstone are a good team. They pop the ball about really well. They've got a good manager. They've got good players. So, we knew that coming into it. It's about getting that job done domestically as well as in Europe."
McPake pounced on Saints boss Simo Valakari’s playing style he knows so well at the weekend. He picked off a loose pass out from the back by defender Zach Mitchell in setting up Wilson’s strike and admits it was an odd feeling playing against a club he owes so much to.
"I kind of understood what they were trying to do,” McPake added. “Because I was there last year and I know the manager really, really well. But listen, I thought we had to grind that out and it was a good three points at the end. Our gaffer touched on that before the game. So I knew it would shut that kind of inside pass off. Thankfully, it came straight to me. I spotted James make the run and slipped him in. He got a good goal.
“I think that's what's going to happen in this league. You need to be ready for that. Obviously, in the first half, I thought we played some really, really nice stuff. I thought we did in the second half at points. But listen, we dug deep, especially after being away to Europe this week and getting three points. That was massive for us and that was the most important when we did that.”