Berra's determined to graduate with honours

HEARTS BY PAUL KIDDIE

CHRISTOPHE BERRA has proved himself to be a quick learner at Tynecastle - but the youngster is happy to wait for his official graduation into the Hearts first team.

Although the centre-half has made a handful of top-team appearances for the Jambos since making his debut under former boss Craig Levein, he is the first to admit he is far from being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of regulars Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and versatile Canadian Kevin McKenna, who has deputised for either of the Scotland stars when circumstances have dictated.

The 19-year-old, who attended St Thomas’ school in the Capital, passed his latest test with flying colours in impressing in the second half against Rangers last weekend after Pressley was forced out of the Ibrox action with a groin strain.

As boss John Robertson noted afterwards, the young stopper wasn’t fazed by being plunged into the heat of battle against the in-form Nacho Novo and Dado Prso.

Berra was satisfied with his contribution, although like the rest of his team-mates, hugely disappointed not to take anything from a game Hearts put so much into. "It was difficult to come on at the break and then get used to the pace of the game but I thought I did okay early on," said Berra, who has another year and a half left on his contract.

"It was great coming up against the likes of Dado Prso, who has a huge amount of experience and has played in the Champions League.

"I am just a young lad learning my trade and hopefully there will be a few more opportunities for me this season.

"The aim is to establish myself eventually in the first team but I have two Scotland internationalists in front of me at the moment so it is going to be difficult to get a game just now and I know that I will just have to bide my time.

"The likes of Elvis and Andy are always on hand to give me advice during training every day and I can only learn from listening to them.

"At this moment I know I am not going to be a regular as the two guys have been really consistent with their performances.

"I’ll just have to be patient and wait for the openings to come along."

Berra has already seen his displays for Hearts’ first team and youths rewarded with an Scotland Under-19 call-up last season.

It was an experience he will cherish, although his boss is convinced even better things lie ahead, Robbo predicting Berra can eventually follow in the footsteps of his two mentors and earn his place in the full international set-up.

"This is my third season but first as a professional," added Berra. "I just want to get more games under my belt and if I can do that then hopefully my game will improve.

"I have played one game for Scotland under-19s last season. It was a great experience and hopefully there will be more like that to come in the future."

Praising the youngster’s abilities after his assured 45 minutes at Ibrox, Robertson insists it is only a matter of time, providing he continues his progress, before senior Scotland involvement is on the cards.

"Christophe is a really good quality youngster," said the Hearts boss.

"He is in the same mould as Zander Diamond at Aberdeen in that he is strong, quick, athletic and can play football.

"I feel he has a Scotland international future in him and he showed that at Ibrox last weekend.

"He battled away and didn’t look out of place against two of the best strikers in Scotland at the moment.

"We’ve got high hopes for him and hopefully he will be at the heart of our defence for years to come."

Taken from the Scotsman