Elvis looks forward to appearance 200

Motherwell milestone for Jambos skipper

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS captain Steven Pressley is set to write a special chapter in his Tynecastle career this weekend, the defender poised to make his 200th league appearance for the club.

The Scotland star will reach the target when he leads the Jambos into battle against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.

It will be a proud moment for the 30-year-old but he is the first to admit the milestone seemed a long way off after a less than impressive start to his career in the Capital following his move from Dundee United.

Signed by Jim Jefferies in the summer of 1998 in the wake of the famous Scottish Cup triumph, Pressley found himself operating in the alien position of right-back with Paul Ritchie and David Weir the established figures at the centre of the defence.

Although he scored on his league debut in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle in September ’98, the former Rangers stopper found early life in Gorgie far from easy.

"I will be delighted to reach that target," he said. "This is now my seventh season at the club and to play that many games shows I have been relatively fortunate with injury.

"My first nine or ten games for Hearts, though, didn’t go to plan as I was played as a full-back.

"I spoke to the manager at the time, Jim Jefferies, and explained to him that I didn’t enjoy playing in that position - but the previous season had seen Paul Ritchie and David Weir do exceptionally well and Jim wasn’t prepared to separate them.

"So I had to settle for the full-back berth for the opening period of that season, which I must say I didn’t enjoy greatly.

"However, once I finally got the opportunity to play in the centre of defence, I think I began to show people why Jim had put faith in me.

"It was a difficult opening spell for me because I was in a position which I hadn’t been accustomed to, but since then I have really enjoyed my time at Hearts.

"This is my seventh year at the club and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. In football, though, from time to time a kick in the backside is a good thing to get.

"Once he had seen me at full-back for a few weeks I don’t think Jim took much persuading to play me at centre-half!

"I actually made my debut for Hearts at centre-half against Raith Rovers in the League Cup the midweek prior to facing Aberdeen. Jim told me how pleased he had been with me but said I would be at full-back against Aberdeen.

"Although that went well with me scoring in a 2-0 win, things weren’t easy after a slightly disappointing start to the season. But that comes with the territory of being with a club the size of Hearts."

Despite a hesitant start at Tynecastle, the Scotland star has seen his career blossom under Craig Levein.

With a second successive UEFA Cup campaign looming on the horizon, Pressley’s earlier experiences have helped him cope with the expectancy which comes with finishing third two seasons running.

"When I arrived at Tynecastle there was a terrific amount of expectation at the club as it was the season after the Scottish Cup win," he said.

"Season ticket sales were very high, there was a massive travelling support and Tynecastle itself was nearly full every week. At this moment in time because of our success over the past couple of seasons expectations are again high but that is something you have to learn to cope with."

Pressley, in the final season of a current four-year-deal, will celebrate his 31st birthday in October and he maintains he intends to continue playing at the highest level for another five years - with Hearts his preferred choice.

"If someone had said to me as a young boy that I would be captain of Hearts, I’d have been very satisfied," he said.

"Coming to Tynecastle has been a great move for me. It will be good to make my 200th league appearance and I’d like to think there are many more to come.

"I am approaching my 31st birthday and if I can stay fit and free of injury I’d hope I could have at least another five years in me.

"I don’t know if the manager will think that though!

"But if it is the case then hopefully a large percentage of that time will be spent here at Hearts."

Taken from the Scotsman