Robbie has score to settle with Rangnick

ROBBIE NEILSON has proved himself to be one of the great survivors at Tynecastle - and he’s determined to help keep Hearts’ UEFA Cup hopes alive with victory over German giants Schalke tonight.

The Jambos face a daunting task at Murrayfield this evening as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Feyenoord in their opening match in Group A.

Ralf Rangnick’s outfit will march out at the home of Scottish rugby with confidence high having stormed into second place in the Bundesliga following an impressive run of five successive victories. Rangnick is no stranger to Neilson, though, the defender just one of two survivors - Steven Pressley is the other - from the Hearts team which faced his Stuttgart side in the first round of the UEFA Cup in September 2000.

The stopper had just said farewell to his teens when he was involved in an epic return against the Germans at Tynecastle, the home side triumphing 3-2 on the night only to exit on the away goals.

Neilson was a first-half substitute for the injured Gary Locke that evening and his recollection of the breathtaking match is as vivid as ever.

"I have played a few European matches now and there is always a special buzz about them. It seems a long time ago since we played Stuttgart at Tynecastle but that is still a memorable occasion for me, even though we went out in the end.

"We lost the first leg 1-0 but gave a good account of ourselves and the atmosphere in the second leg was just unbelievable.

"The game had absolutely everything. We went behind early on, got ourselves back into it, they had two men sent off and then Gordan Petric had a chance right at the end to clinch it.

"It was a brilliant occasion and hopefully we can have another one this evening."

The likes of Locke, Petric, Colin Cameron, Thomas Flogel, Andy Kirk and Gary Naysmith, who all played that night have long since gone from Gorgie. But Neilson has battled against the odds to forge a career for himself in the famous maroon, and having signed in 1996, the 24-year-old is now the longest-serving member of the first-team squad.

Had he been told back in 2000 that he would still be performing on the European stage for Hearts, the full-back would have regarded such a scenario as beyond his wildest dreams.

Although enjoying the best form of his life, he overcame a crisis of confidence which at one stage looked set to hasten his departure from the Gorgie outfit.

Former boss Craig Levein farmed him out on loan to Queen of the South two years ago, Neilson returning after a six-month spell a much-improved player - he also captured his first senior medal with a Bell’s Cup win over Brechin City while at Palmerston Park. Although grateful to Hearts former boss for helping salvage his Tynecastle career, Neilson and his team-mates now have a new man to impress, strike legend John Robertson having taking over the reins this week.

"I wouldn’t still be here had it not been for my loan at Queen of the South," he said. "That helped me get my game back together and regain my confidence.

"There have been a few hard times for me since that night against Stuttgart but I am delighted to still be at the club and playing my part for Hearts in the UEFA Cup.

"The more games you play like this against some of Europe’s top players the better as it has to help improve you as a footballer. Thankfully I have managed to keep my place in the side and hopefully I can now prove myself to the new manager. That’s the challenge for us all now, even the guys who haven’t been in the team, they have the chance now to show their worth and stake their own claims."

Despite all the off-field drama over the past week with Levein and his No.2 Peter Houston taking over at Leicester City, Neilson insists the players will not be distracted from their mission. "There has been a lot going on at the club just now but it really hasn’t had anything to do with us," he said. "Craig did a good job getting us here and it’s up to us to carry that on now under the new manager.

"The first game without a manager was always going to be difficult and things were a bit flat to begin with against Dundee on Saturday but we finished with a comfortable victory which was important going into the European match.

"Everyone is upbeat, training has been first class and we’re all looking forward to the match tonight.

"We had a good result the last time we were at Murrayfield against Braga so hopefully we can do the same again."

Taken from the Scotsman