TYNAMITE

NEIL McCANN has been back at Hearts for six months but he's yet to play in front of the Jambos faithful at his beloved Tynecastle.

An injury picked up against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in January in the first game of his second stint at the Edinburgh club kept him out of action for the rest of last season.

The former Rangers and Scotland winger made a welcome return as a substitute inWednesday night's 2-0 win over Osasuna at Murrayfield - venue for Hearts' Champions League games because of it's bigger capacity than their Gorgie home.

But while McCann is desperate to be fit for next week's Champions League qualifier against Siroki Brijeg - he is just as keen to get involved in the domestic action at Tynecastle.

He said: "I got a fantastic reception from the Hearts fans when I came on against Osasuna and that was special.

"Even during the warm-up I had goosebumps but going on to the park was magic. When you have been involved in football you miss that whole thing. It's hard watching and I'm not a good spectator.

"I liked Murrayfield as a venue but I can't wait to get back to Tynecastle.

"I cannot believe how long I have been here since my return and not had the chance to run out there yet.

"It will be an emotional homecoming for me and it will be pretty special."

The winger is also champing at the bit to take part in Europe's premier club tournament after sampling the high life during his four-year stint at Rangers.

And McCann revealed he may have to be saved from himself such is his eagerness to play again.

The 31-year-old said: "The Osasuna game was the first time I'd taken part with the guys and had any physical contact since I got injured so to be thrown in at the deep end was a good feeling.

"Next Wednesday's Champions League tie cannot come quick enough for me and I'm absolutely desperate to play in this match. It is entirely up to the coaching staff to judge whether I am ready or not to play. I've been chipping away for the past few days and I was just delighted to finally make my comeback.

"My fitness was great and I knew it was just a matter of being confident enough in the ligament.

"I was begging the physio saying, 'Give us a shot and let me join in' and he let me take part in the sprints but when when it came to the ballwork they dragged me out screaming and kicking.

"I am just so eager to get into it again. I'm an all-or-nothing player and the physio has been reigning me in.

"I've been a good boy so far but I feel it's time to push on. I'm motivated enough even in every training session to push myself to the limit and I want to push on and hopefully that will mean winning even more medals at Tynecastle."

McCann knows Hearts cannot afford to read too much into their undefeated pre-season friendly record but it is breeding confidence among the capital club's ranks.

And he believes the Osasuna experience will go a long way to helping his club's quest to reach the lucrative Champions League group stage.

McCann said: "People might look into this and say it's just a pre-season friendly but this was a more serious game for us.

"Osasuna are a pretty decent side and that was a really good scalp that we took. The fact they were fourth in the Spanish League behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia shows they're a quality outfit.

"I was not happy with my performance and contribution. Although it was good fitness wise, hopefully I can smooth the other things over.

"We showed we can compete with a team like Osasuna and that's the kind of class of opposition we'll face if we advance in the Champions League.

"We have to take a lot of heart from that but we must get over the first hurdle against Siroki Brijeg before we can start thinking about the big guns coming in."

Taken from the Daily Record