Good times at Tynie not forgotten by De Vries

MARK BONTHRONE

WITH the limited strike options open to Hearts, interim manager Stephen Frail at the moment it's safe to assume he would relish being able to call upon somebody with the proven SPL scoring record of Dundee United forward Mark de Vries.
The towering Dutchman, a cult figure among the Jambos support, will return to Tynecastle to face Hearts for the first time this weekend since ending a two-and-a-half year spell in Gorgie.

During his time at Hearts, De Vries endeared himself to fans with crucial strikes against the likes of Bordeaux, Braga and, of course, four goals in a derby hammering of Edinburgh rivals Hibs.

A lot has changed since those days when Hearts were perennial European challengers, with the current crop of players struggling to even make the top six in the table.

Indeed, it's United who currently occupy third spot in the SPL, with boss Craig Levein, who was also De Vries' manager at Hearts, helping the Tangerines to pole position in the race for UEFA Cup qualification.

De Vries admitted today that he feels for Hearts in the predicament they currently find themselves in but the former Leicester City and Heerenveen forward revealed he will only be focusing on a United win when the teams clash this weekend. He said: "I have good memories of Hearts but I'm not a Hearts player any more – I'm with Dundee United now and I'll give my best for them.

"It's three years since I left Hearts and a lot of things have changed. There aren't too many players left from my time there and the only ones are really Christophe Berra, Robbie Neilson and Michael Stewart.

"I still speak to Michael from time to time and it will be good to catch up with those guys after the game.

"Hearts did very well in the year I left but since then it hasn't been so good and I feel sorry for them.

"If you look at the club it's massive and they shouldn't be where they are just now. I'd love to see them move up the table but on Saturday I'm paid by Dundee United."

There can be little room for sentiment with the carrot of European football dangling for United while Hearts will be desperate to avoid a bottom-half finish for the first time in seven years.

Yet De Vries conceded he's hopeful of receiving a warm reception from the Tynecastle stands – at least before the game.

"I have fond memories of the Hearts fans and hopefully they still have fond memories of me because we had some good times," said De Vries, who scored 34 times for the Jambos.

"We'll see what happens at the weekend and what sort of reception I get. Everybody knows that players come and go in football although I have to say that I always felt Hearts would be the only Scottish club I played for. Obviously that's not the way that things have worked out though. Hopefully the Hearts fans will realise that I always gave my best for the club and now that I'm a Dundee United player I have to do the same for them.

"I can't complain with how things have gone for me so far since returning to Scotland and, after a slow start, I feel things are going well."

Many of De Vries' proudest moments in a Hearts jersey came in the UEFA Cup with a famous strike in a 1-0 triumph over Bordeaux in France in 2003 and two vital away goals against Braga a year later which helped the Jambos make it into the group stages of the competition. While there will be no repeat of those occasions for Hearts next season, De Vries' experiences in a maroon jersey mean that he is desperate to try and emulate them with United.

"European nights are very special because they don't come along too often. That means when you have the chance of getting them you have to take it," said the 32-year-old. "In European games you can see how far you have come as a player but also as a team and it's a chance to pit yourself against the best.

"I was lucky enough to have a number of great nights in the UEFA Cup with Hearts and they are experiences that I will never forget.

"I think Braga was probably the best because it helped us get into the group stages. Dundee United still have a long way to go before they are at that stage but I'd love to win on Saturday to take us another ste
p closer to that.

"With the situation so tight in the race for third spot, last weekend's win against Motherwell was a big one for us. Confidence is high at the moment but we know that going to Tynecastle, regardless of how Hearts have been doing, will be tough."

In recent weeks the Gorgie faithful have not been slow to vent their displeasure at what they have been witnessing on the pitch and de Vries believes this can aid the visitors.

"I've never experienced Tynecastle as an opposition player but I know the lift I used to get when I was with Hearts and would run out there," he said.

"I'd imagine therefore that it can be a pretty intimidating place if the crowd can get right behind their team.

"It's important to start any game well but particularly at Tynecastle. If Hearts were to get their tails up and the crowd gets behind them then our task will be all the harder."

Taken from the Scotsman