Berra finds Elvis and Webster inspiring

MARK BONTHRONE

CHRISTOPHE BERRA could be forgiven for being frustrated at seeing his path to the Hearts top team blocked by internationalists Steven Pressley and Andy Webster - but rather than bemoaning the fact the youngster has revealed he relishes the chance to learn from them on a day-to-day basis.

The 20-year-old centre half has managed just 20 minutes of first team action for the Jambos this season, when he came on as a substitute as the Gorgie club slumped to their only defeat so far this term, a 1-0 reverse against Livingston at Almondvale in the CIS Cup.

The Pressley/Webster partnership that has served the Tynecastle outfit so well for the past few seasons has proved an unbreakable one for Berra with the duo now also regulars in Walter Smith's resurgent Scotland side that face Belarus at Hampden this weekend.

But while other more impatient players might be voicing their discontent about seeing their club careers stall Berra knows he still has plenty of time on his side.

And furthermore he believes that training with both players and watching them in action, soaking up any hints and tips offered, can only make him a better player for the future.

"You learn a lot in training with guys like that and they are always passing on wee bits of advice," said Berra, who is himself a Scotland under-21 internationalist. Andy is still quite young himself but he already has so much experience and both him and Elvis [Pressley] have been a big help.

"In training they both keep you on your toes because they have such high standards and they want to maintain them even in bounce games.

"And they are always there if you want to ask them for advice and I've no doubt that I will be a better player from working closely with them.

"They are both internationalists and you only have to look at the displays they put in last weekend, Elvis in particular, to see how important they are for the team.

"They are both total professionals who conduct themselves properly and never make headlines for the wrong reasons and in a way I suppose they are role models for young players.

"There's no way I'm going to start moaning about not being in the side.

"I just need to be ready to grasp my chance if either of them are ruled out through suspension or injury. I think George Burley knows what I'm capable of but with the form Elvis and Andy are in I can't have any complaints about not being in the team." But while Berra is content to sit on the sidelines for now he revealed he would love to one day follow in Webster and Pressley's footsteps by establishing himself at both club and international level.

And in doing so he could, ironically, take the place of one of the men he credits with helping him develop into an exciting young prospect.

"Andy, pictured right, was quite a young boy when Craig Levein gave him his chance and he took it while Elvis has established himself as a big favourite at the club and of course I would like to do the same," said Berra, who has been signed with Hearts since the age of 16.

"Hearts look to be a club going places and I would love to do what they have done and cement a place in the team and then maybe with a bit of luck become a full international.

"That could even mean taking one of their places one day and I'm sure they would have something to say about that!

"But you never know what can happen down the line."

As Berra says, Hearts are a club going places. Their next outing, to be precise, is a top-of-the-table showdown with Celtic in Glasgow. And while the Jambos may have surrendered their 100 per cent record at the Falkirk Stadium last weekend the youngster rejects any suggestions the result would knock the Jambos out of their stride.

"That was only one game and we still got a point away from home so there is no way confidence has been affected by the result," he said.

"If anything we have been given a lift as a lot of teams would have been dead and buried at two goals down with ten men but we showed great character and everyone is full of confidence."

First up for Berra, however, is the little matter of Belarus at Broadwood on Friday night before a trip to face Slovenia a few days later with Scotland's under-21's.

And although Rainer Bonhof's men can no longer qualify after a disappointing opening to their campaign, Berra insists there is no chance of the Scotland players giving anything less than 100 per cent.

"The mood in the camp is good because we have had a good couple of decent results recently," he admitted.

"It was important we got the monkey off our backs as we had lost a lot of matches and it's just a pity we didn't play like we did in the last couple of matches at the start of the group and then we may have been in with a chance of qualifying.

"We can't go through now but you have to approach the game in the same way you would any other.

"You have your own personal pride but also there will be people paying money to come and watch so they deserve a performance."

And if any motivation was needed, as if pulling on the dark blue Scotland jersey wasn't enough, Berra will also use the rare competitive outing as another chance to remind his club boss just what he has to offer.

"It's been mainly reserve matches with Hearts so it is nice to have a competitive match to look forward to.

"Reserve matches are all good and well but competitive matches have that added edge you need to keep you sharp.

"As I said I'm sure the gaffer already knows what I can do but it won't do any harm to give him another wee reminder!"

Taken from the Scotsman