ROBBIE JOY AT WALTER CALL-UP

ROBBIE NEILSON was recognised by Walter Smith and substituted by Valdas Ivanauskas on the same day.

On Wednesday morning the full-back was chosen by the national team manager for his squad's forthcoming training session at St Andrews.

But that evening he was hauled off by his club boss during the goalless draw with Siroki Brijeg which took Hearts into the Champions League third qualifying round.

It was a decision which puzzled the injured Paul Hartley so much he called in to Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme to say he was mystified over the move and even suggested the decision might have been taken by the club's owner, Vladimir Romanov, and not Ivanauskas.

But Neilson can fight his own battles because over-coming rejection to win through in the end has been the story of his life at Tynecastle.

Being one tie away from facing some of the most glamorous names in European football while looking forward to his induction into the international arena is as good as it gets for the player who joined Hearts straight from school at the age of 16.

But there was a time when his future at the highest level of the game was cast into doubt when former Tynecastle boss Craig Levein dumped him from the first team and organised for him to go out on loan to Queen of the South.

Neilson said: "I had managed a few first-team games under Jim Jefferies but Craig left me out of his plans and was then honest enough to say he felt it might be better for me in the long run if I went somewhere where I'd be guaranteed a regular game.

"It came as a big shock to me to have to go elsewhere but I turned it into a lesson in never giving up on your original ambitions.

"I found myself in the company of good, honest professionals at Palmerston and profited from the experience in the long run. I never looked back from the moment I rejoined Hearts after my time in Dumfries."

The symbol of knowing he's really made it will be the day when Neilson ceases to be one of the Tynecastle outcasts and leaves the ground for training with the rest of the players wanted by their country. He said: "I got used to being left with only a handful of squad mates for company during international weeks. Now I'll be joining the big boys.

"I didn't even know Walter Smith was getting the players together at St Andrews for training until a pal of mine texted me at our hotel in Mostar before the European tie and told me I'd been included in the squad.

"I've gone to lots of Scotland games to see my Hearts team-mates playing. It would be great to think it might be me out on the pitch with them one day, but there's a bit of football to be played before I even get to the Fife coast, never mind anywhere else."

Celtic in the SPL on Sunday will be followed by the first leg of the Champions League tie with AEK at Murrayfield on Wednesday.

The look on Neilson's face as he was replaced by Ibrahim Tall in Mostar was enough to suggest he didn't fully agree with the decision.

He said: "I was a bit stunned because it's a while since that happened to me. The manager didn't explain his thinking afterwards and I didn't ask him for an explanation. Maybe I'll ask him tomorrow."

Neilson is no more confident of getting a reply than he is of coaxing the whole country to rally round Hearts as they attempt to join Celtic in the Champions League group stage.

He said: "It would be nice to think neutral supporters would turn up and support us but I know that's not how Scottish football works. There will be fans of other clubs who'd rather see us lose to AEK than go into the Champions League."

Celtic stand to net an extra £2million if they are the only Scottish side in the group stage.

Hibs fans might let civic rivalry get in the way of their ability to wish Hearts all the best on the night.

The rest of the country will need to examine its conscience and see how they truly feel but Neilson is happy for Hearts to stand alone, if necessary.

He said: "So long as our supporters turn up in big numbers and make plenty of noise, I'll be happy."

Staying on the field for the full 90 minutes would add to that sense of satisfaction.

Taken from the Daily Record