Striker Weir knows he faces real fight to hit the front of the queue

GRAEME CROSER

HEARTS starlet Graham Weir turned in a fine all-round performance in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Lisburn Distillery - but he admits it’s going to be harder than ever to secure a starting slot in the Jambos’ front line this term.

The 19-year-old grabbed the Jambos’ third goal with a cool finish and won the penalty which led to Paul Hartley completing the scoring at Ballyskeagh.

However, the fact the names of fellow forwards Andy Kirk and Dennis Wyness were also on the scoresheet signalled to Weir just how tough it will be for him to muscle his way into Craig Levein’s side.

That’s not to mention the added competition provided by Mark de Vries and Gary Wales, who watched on from the sidelines as the Tynecastle side got their tour of Northern Ireland off to a fine start.

However, Weir is not one to shirk a fight. The teenage powerhouse proved last term that he can mix it with the best, as proved by his two memorable injury-time goals in the New Year derby against Hibs and a couple of all-action displays against Celtic.

Those derby goals earned him a permanent place in the affections of the Tynecastle support but he wants to be remembered for much more than that.

In total he started nine first-team games last term, finding the net four times.

He aims to do better this time round but is under no illusions about what it will take to prove he is worth his place.

He said: "It was a good way for the team to start the tour and especially nice for me as I got a goal.

"I think we took all our goals really well and it was good for Kirky and Dennis to get themselves on the scoresheet as well. That shows you the sort of depth we have up front and I know it’s going to be hard to force my way in this season. Mark de Vries and Gary Wales will also be in contention and while that makes it difficult it’s good for Hearts to have so many quality strikers.

"My aim for the next year is simply to do better than last season.

"The first target to get into the side and then I want to score goals.

"I’m only 19 and still learning so I have to be patient. Just being away with the full squad is a good experience.

"Obviously, I look up to the likes of Steven Pressley and watch the way he goes about his business and the way he prepares for games.

"He’s an experienced professional and also our captain so he’s someone I can learn a lot from."

Weir’s performance was especially pleasing as it was the first 90 minutes he has completed since sustaining an ankle injury against Kilmarnock late last season.

Indeed the forward actually looked as if he got stronger the longer the game wore on which is testament to the work he has put in to get himself back to full fitness.

He added: "I got 15 minutes in the friendly against Queen’s Park last week but the Lisburn game was the first full match since I got the injury last season.

"At that time I had got myself into the first team and felt I was striking up a good partnership with Mark so it was disappointing when I hurt the ankle.

"But this is a new season and I just want to see if I can take up where I left off."

It took a while for Hearts to find any real rhythm in their play against the Lisburn outfit as the home side took a tight grip on proceedings from the start.

As early as the third minute there was a scare when home striker Mark Holland hit the post and Distillery continued to enjoy possession for the bulk of the first half without creating too many clear-cut chances.

However, it was Hearts who took the lead after Kirk collected a raking through-ball from Steven Boyack in the 40th minute. Home keeper Philip Matthews had raced from his area and, realising he couldn’t handle it, found himself stranded allowing Kirk to sidestep him and sidefoot the ball into the empty net.

Kirk, wearing the captain’s armband for the day, clearly enjoyed his homecoming and the chance to put one over on father Paul - the Lisburn boss.

Kirk was withdrawn at half-time for Wyness and the former Inverness Caley Thistle man was on target within 15 minutes.

Hartley played a long through-ball which defender Wayne Buchanan failed to deal with properly, making a hash of his pass-back allowing the striker to draw Matthews before sidefooting the ball home.

Weir found the target with the goal of the game after collecting an excellent through-ball from substitute Robert Sloan, curling the ball into the far corner of the net.

Hartley completed the scoring after Weir had been felled in the box.

Levein was more than satisfied with the afternoon’s work and paid tribute to his young players. He said: "We had a pretty young side out there because Jean Louis Valois, Scott Severin, Steven Pressley and Mark de Vries all missed out.

"They are all important players for us but the young lads responded excellently.

"Andy Webster had another sound game at the back, Craig Gordon was in goal while Robert Sloan and Neil Janczyk also did well off the bench.

"I thought Weiry was excellent up front and all in all I’m very pleased with the way the game went.

"I’m less concerned with the results from these games and more keen to ensure that we get through injury-free but it was pleasing to score a few goals."

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews (Neill 90), Philson (Thompson 90), Muir, Irwin (Ferguson 79), Buchanan, Haveron (Prenter 74), Martin (Mouncey 62), Lyttle (Clifford 74), Holland (McConnell 11), Dickson, McCloskey (Deegan 62). Sub not used: Strain.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Kisnorbo, Webster, McCann, Boyack (Janczyk 68), MacFarlane, Hartley, Stamp (Sloan 46), Weir, Kirk (Wyness 46). Unused subs - Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, De Vries.

Referee: E Aicken.

Taken from the Scotsman