Berra steps up for the big one

HEARTS star Christophe Berra revealed today he will fulfil one of his burning footballing ambitions when he runs out at the start of Saturday's Edinburgh derby.

The 20-year-old defender, pictured giving Lee Johnson a piggy-back below, will line up in the heart of the Jambos defence alongside Scotland defender Andy Webster in the absence of club captain Steven Pressley, who is suspended.

It will be the first time Berra has started against Hearts' deadly rivals and something he's dreamed of for more than three years.

It was January 2, 2003 that the youngster's appetite was first whetted for Edinburgh's big game when he sat as a 17-year-old and watched unfold what has now become a part of Gorgie folklore.

For that was the day Graham Weir helped Hearts to come back from the dead as he grabbed two goals in stoppage time to salvage a share of the spoils after Hibs had been cruising to a 4-2 win with the 90 minutes up.

The celebrations that marked the end of that clash are as wild as Tynecastle has ever seen and it was then that Berra knew he had to experience the occasion for himself.

"I don't remember watching the Edinburgh derby as a kid and the first one that really sticks in my mind is the 4-4 game from a few years ago," said the Scotland Future squad cap.

"I was on the staff at that point and was watching it from the stand and remember not believing what I was seeing.

"The game looked over and then Graham Weir popped up with those two goals.

"It's hard enough coming back from a goal down with so little time left so to do it when two down was incredible.

"The atmosphere at Tynecastle is always good as the crowd are so near to things but that was as loud as I've ever heard it. It was a great day and I've wanted to be involved in a derby from the start ever since.

"Hopefully, assuming I'm picked this weekend, that will happen although it will take some doing for the game to be as exciting as that one was!"

Berra's only playing experience of a derby to date is a brief 17-minute appearance as a substitute last April.

He was introduced into proceedings at Tynecastle just 60 seconds after Dean Shiels had fired Hibs into a 2-1 lead, an advantage they would never relinquish.

Despite only playing the last few minutes of that match Berra remembers the sense of dejection that filled the dressing-room well and is determined to avoid a repeat.

"When I came on we moved to a back three because we were throwing men forward and trying to get back in the tie," he recalled.

"They had just gone ahead for the first time in the game and despite us piling on the pressure we couldn't grab an equaliser.

"That virtually killed off our chances of qualifying for Europe and everyone was really down after the game. Hopefully it will be different this time round as that wasn't a nice feeling.

"It's never great in the changing room when you lose any game but it hurt a bit more being a derby and an important one at that."

Win, lose or draw on Saturday neither side's European aspirations will be decided for definite by the time quarter to five comes round.

But, should all three points remain in Gorgie, Berra admitted it would be difficult for Hibs to battle back in the race for a Champions League spot.

"It's a big game and they will be looking to close the gap to three points while we obviously want to give ourselves a bit of breathing space," he said.

"It's unusual for Hearts and Hibs to be occupying second and third place in the league but we are both their on merit.

"It's good for Edinburgh football but on Saturday there will only be one team I want to win and that's us.

"If they win it would be quite a big ask for them but there's no way they would be out of it as there are so many games still to go and they would just need to go on a wee run.

"But it would certainly give everyone a huge lift at Hearts if we could win the game."

Berra was brought into the Hearts side for the suspended Pressley for last week's match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

And, although the visitors slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat the defender turned in the kind of assured performance that led national boss Walter Smith to select him for the Scotland Future squad's game with Poland earlier this season.

Berra has only played a handful of matches so far this term and Saturday will no doubt be his toughest test of the campaign but, if he has any nerves he hides them well. And, despite the importance of the game, he is determined to keep his feet on the ground

"Everyone was disappointed to lose at Kilmarnock but the good thing is that we have an important game up next to try and make up for that.

"I think the key is that we prepare for this match the same way we would if we were playing Dunfermline, Rangers or Celtic," he said. "It shouldn't matter who you are playing you need to approach the match professionally or else you can come undone.

"I haven't played much this season because of the form of Webby and Elvis so, when these kind of chances do come around, I have to take them.

"I can't complain about not being in the team when they are fit and suspension free because they have been superb all season.

"That doesn't mean I don't want to play though and I'll be trying my very best to impress if I'm selected. I suppose there may be a few nerves before the kick-off but they'll disappear as soon as the first tackle goes in or the first header is contested.

"In matches like this you get caught up in the atmosphere and I'll be too busy watching my man and timing tackles to worry about being nervous."

Lining up against Berra are likely to be Derek Riordan and Garry O'Connor.

The Easter Road duo have proven what a deadly partnership they can be over the past couple of seasons but, far from losing sleep over the contest, Berra is positively relishing the challenge.

"I've only played against Garry O'Connor for a few minutes when they won 2-1 because he was taken off while Derek Riordan was already off the pitch by the time I came on," he said. "But they are both really good players and two of their most dangerous players.

"They have a number of good qualities and most importantly they score goals. It will be tough against them but the only way to improve is to test yourself against good players.

"I know a wee bit more about Derek as he was in the Scotland Under-21 squad with me when we played Italy.

"I also have an experienced defence around me as Craig Gordon, Andy Webster, Takis Fyssas and Robbie Neilson have played in almost every game this season, so that will help.

"So it doesn't matter if I'm up against Garry O'Connor or Derek Riordan or neither of them. I have enough confidence in my own ability to believe I can cope."

Taken from the Scotsman