Robbie banks on European stars to bring that extra help

ROBBIE NEILSON believes that taking a continental approach has helped put Hearts in the driving seat for a place in the Champions League next season.

The Tynecastle defender has been impressed not only by the number of quality players being drafted in to the Gorgie side's squad from foreign shores since the summer, but also by the new arrivals' dedication to improving their game.

Following the example of the likes of Bruno Aguiar, Julian Brellier and Takis Fyssas means that training sessions at the team's Riccarton Academy are no longer over by lunchtime.

The foreign stars on Hearts' books have been taking full advantage of the facilities on offer, turning up early before sessions with the manager and staying on well into the afternoon to do extra work.

And Neilson, pictured, believes that the attitudes displayed and daily routines undertaken by the growing foreign legion at Tynecastle are beginning to rub off on their Scottish team-mates and as far as he is concerned, that can only be good for the long-term future and success of Hearts.

He said: "In the past when we've been training at school grounds and places like that we've had to be away by 12 noon, but there is a whole different way of thinking now. The foreign players who have come in have brought in the European mentality of coming in early and leaving late. That's the way it is done in countries like Spain or Italy, they come and do their own stuff before training, do a session with the team, have some lunch and then do a bit more.

"I think that Scottish football has lagged behind the rest of Europe on that front in the last ten or 20 years so, if we can take anything from the foreign players' game, then that will be a huge benefit. Gone are the days when you would just turn up for training and leave as soon as it was over. I think their approach is rubbing off on the team, it is definitely rubbing off on me and I feel a better player for it."

Neilson expects to be fit for this Sunday's showdown with Rangers at Tynecastle, despite taking a heavy knock to his thigh last weekend against Inverness.

The importance of a victory cannot be overstated as it would see Hearts open a nine-point gap on the third-placed Ibrox men, a valuable cushion as the two sides battle it out for that vital league runners-up spot.

Having watched Alex McLeish's side become the first Scottish outfit to reach the last eight of the Champions League, Neilson admits he can't wait for the opportunity to have a taste of the big time for himself. And he is certain that, if they do get there, it will be an ideal bargaining tool for the club to convince more top-drawer players to come and ply their trade at Tynecastle.

He added: "I watched Rangers play in the Champions League and there's no doubt that they did really well and they've been a credit to Scottish football.

"We want to experience that as well and play in those types of games and we're hoping that we will get that chance next season. We had a bit of a taste of it with our run in the UEFA Cup, you learn so much from coming up against top European players and you have to adapt to a new style of game.

"Everyone at the club just wants to be part of that again and the Champions League is the biggest competition going. It would be great for Hearts but it would also be great to have on your CV that you played at the highest level. A lot of it is about how much money it can bring a club, but it is more than that, it is about prestige too.

"You can attract so many quality players if you are going to be part of that.

"I think a lot of the players who came to the club in January were attracted by the fact that they could get Champions League football here next season.

"If we can get in there, then we will be able to attract even better players to the club."

Even if Hearts do manage to put one over on their Glasgow rivals again, Neilson insists that there will still be a lot of hard work to do before they can be assured of second spot in the league.

"If we get the win on Sunday and the gap is increased to nine points nothing is decided in terms of who will get the Champions League place.

"We've got a lot of hard games coming up before the league splits. After it splits you've got five games against five of the best teams in the league so a lot can change and we won't be taking anything for granted."

Taken from the Scotsman