BURCHILL AIMING TO MAKE HIS MARK

New Hearts striker Mark Burchill has targeted a return to the Scotland squad as he prepares to rekindle his career at Tynecastle.

The 24-year-old, who has joined the Jambos until the end of the season, was hit by serious injuries following his move from Celtic to Portsmouth in August 2001.

Loan spells at Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday were also disrupted by injury during his time in England.

But now Burchill, who has six caps for Scotland, believes joining head coach John Robertson at the Edinburgh club can have a rejuvenating effect on his career - at all levels.

He said: "Everyone knows I left Celtic for first-team football but I have been hampered by injury at Portsmouth.

"I was out for a year with a cruciate ligament and have also had knee ligament trouble and hamstring injuries.

"I have been to Dundee on loan and then I had a couple of spells at Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday, which both ended when I was injured.

"But, hopefully, I am injury free now. This is where I can kick-start my career and I feel it is a great time for me to come to Hearts.

"I want to play regular first-team football and then get in and around the national squad and see what happens.

"Everyone takes a step back when I tell them I am 24 because I seem to have been around for ages but, sometimes, I feel like that as well.

"But I am just glad to get the opportunity to be working with the gaffer."

But Burchill insists he does not have a point to prove after his disappointing spell in England.

He said: "I feel I have something to achieve in the game.

"I want to have a good career and fulfil the potential people said I had five or six years ago."

Hearts boss Robertson empathised with his new player after his own unsuccessful spell in England with Newcastle United in the 1980s before returning to Scotland.

He said: "Mark doesn't have to prove anything to me, I know what he is capable of and everyone in Scotland knows what he is capable of.

"Just because it didn't work out for him in England doesn't make him a bad player - it was the same for me.

"He has had good spells at different clubs down south but we want him to score goals here.

"I am delighted with his attitude and enthusiasm and he has got a great platform from now until the end of the season.

"He is 24 and not in his prime yet, he's got pace and he knows all about Scottish football.

"Hopefully, this will kick-start his career and then get him back into the national squad because there is no doubt he is capable of being there."

Celtic target Paul Hartley will miss the visit of Aberdeen on Saturday with a hamstring injury.

Taken from sportinglife.com