Janczyk wants Wales to get good reception

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS midfielder Neil Janczyk today insisted that former Jambo Gary Wales deserves a decent reception from the fans when he leads the Kilmarnock attack in tomorrow’s SPL clash at Tynecastle.

The striker is returning to Gorgie for the first time since quitting the club in January and following the mixed reception for former Gorgie favourite Scott Severin during last week’s meeting with Aberdeen, Wales is preparing for a similarly ‘warm’ welcome from the fans.

Assistant boss Peter Houston stated earlier in the week how disappointed he had been by the treatment dished out to Severin by certain sections of the home support.

And Janczyk is certainly hoping it’s a different scenario tomorrow afternoon for the player who spent five years at Tynecastle before pursuing a fresh challenge south of the Border.

"I hope Gary gets a good reception from the supporters," said the midfielder.

"He did well for Hearts and hopefully the fans appreciate that.

"I know he’s wanting to mark his return with a goal or two but it’s up to us to defend as well as we have been doing recently and get the right result."

For someone hoping to make a quick impression this season, the start of the new SPL campaign has been the source of major frustration for Janczyk.

Having awarded him a new one-year contract in the summer, boss Craig Levein made it clear he’s expecting big things from the talented Tynecastle playmaker.

However, no sooner was he thrust into the first-team frame on the Jambos’ pre-season tour to Vancouver than he found himself sidelined by injury when the serious business of gathering SPL points began away to Dundee, a thigh knock picked up in training ruling him out of the Dens Park victory.

Although he had recovered in time to be considered for the Gorgie outfit’s first home game of the season against Aberdeen, he had to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench as the teams battled out a 0-0 stalemate.

Now, as Hearts prepare to play host to Killie, Janczyk is desperate to force his way into the starting line-up sooner rather than later, a task which he readily accepts will be tough given the level of midfield competition which currently exists in the squad.

The arrival of Michael Stewart on loan from Manchester United has significantly added to Levein’s options for the middle of the park, with Paul Hartley, Patrick Kisnorbo and Phil Stamp having all started the season ahead of the likes of Janczyk and Neil MacFarlane.

"The season has not really started for me yet," he said. "I was injured for the first week of the new season and then although I was on the bench against Aberdeen, I had only trained once during that week so it was unlikely I was going to get on.

"It was very frustrating as it meant I was forced to miss a couple of weeks after doing all the hard work during pre-season. But I’m back fit again and hopefully will be on the bench or even starting against Kilmarnock tomorrow.

"We have got off to a good start with four points from the first two games and it’s important we keep things going as best we can."

The 21-year-old knows the quality of midfielders at Hearts is bad news for him personally in his bid to become an established member of the first team - but he’s well aware the focus has to be on the greater good.

"The competition can only be good for the club and we’re all fighting for the same position," he said.

"I just have to work harder to try to get back into the team and be ready to take my chance when it comes along. It would be great to line up against Walesy tomorrow but clearly the gaffer has a lot of options for the middle of the park."

Tomorrow’s visitors threatened to cause a major upset last weekend when they went 2-1 ahead against Celtic - Wales opening his account for his new club in the first half of the clash at Rugby Park.

The champions hit back to eventually run out 4-2 winners, but Janczyk insists Kilmarnock’s display should serve as a warning of the challenge which lies ahead.

"Kilmarnock are always a hard team to beat on their own patch but hopefully they’re not as good away from home and we can take advantage of that," he said.

"They obviously have got Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown in charge and Gary Wales will also be back at Tynecastle so there should be plenty of spice about the game.

"They’ll be wanting to do better than last year and could be one of our main rivals for third place and it’s these types of games we really should be looking at winning."

Taken from the Scotsman