Ice-cool Colin gave Rangers the needle

Gary Keown

COLIN CAMERON has revealed how he needed a special pain killing in jection to beat the crock and be come a Hearts history-maker.

The little midfielder laid the founda tions for the Jambos' historic cup win by slamming a first-minute penalty past Rangers keeper Andy Goram.

But Mickey has told how he was only able to play after receiving a cortisone injection to ease the pain of a pelvic complaint that has played havoc with his season at Tynecastle.

Cameron feared he would miss the fi nal after suffering a recurrence of the problem on Friday afternoon and he will visit a specialist today to find out whether a close-season op is required.

He said: "I received a cortisone injec tion a week past on Thursday and that allowed me to train all the way through the week.

"However, I felt sore after the training session we had on Friday and there was a little bit of a worry there for me.

"But I got through the game and everything went as well as could be expected.

"I will go to see the specialist on Mon day and I am hoping that four weeks of rest over the summer will be enough to cure the complaint.

"It has given me problems this season and I am keen to see the back of it."

Cameron got Hearts off to a dream start by burying a first-minute penalty with his very first touch of the match.

Pressure

And the ice-cool star admits he had no fears at all about stepping up to take the penalty - because he reckons the spot- kick he netted for Raith against Celtic in the Coca-Cola Cup final three years ago was far more nerve wracking.

He said: "I have taken a few important penalties in my time and the nerves were okay.

As far as I was concerned, it was just another penalty.

"I certainly wasn't as nervous this time as I was when I took the penalty in the Coca-Cola Cup final shoot-out for Raith against Celtic.

There wasn't as much pressure.

"I knew this time that failing to score wouldn't be too bad as at least we'd still be level.

"However, I did change my mind on the run-up.

I saw Richard Gough talking to Andy Goram as I prepared to take the kick and came to the conclusion the keeper would be expecting me to put it to his right.

"Thankfully, the ball went in.

It cer tainly wasn't a bad first touch, although I wanted the referee to blow for time right there and then."

Cameron admits he is now looking for ward to a few days of raising a toast to his team-mates.

He said: "This is only the beginning of the party.

It is sure to go on for a few days, if not a few weeks."