STUART BATHGATE
CHRISTIAN Nade lasted just over an hour of Hearts' 1-0 win over Hamilton on Wednesday before being forced off with a hamstring strain, but he was still by some distance the outstanding player in the game.
The striker scored the only goal, had several other chances, some of which he created himself, and also showed exemplary close control.

On one occasion in the first half he beat four Accies players in an area of a few square yards on the right of their penalty box before a fifth managed to slide in and clear the danger.

Nade has given glimpses before of this sort of ability, but he believes he is now in the position to demonstrate his talent more consistently.

"I have never been fitter than I am at this moment," he said. "It was good to score.

"I am very happy. I have worked hard for a long time now, there has been a lot of criticism directed at the strikers that we have not scored, but I managed to find the net against Hamilton.

"It is not only good for me, it's for all the strikers and the team. We had chances to score more, but I scored one. It's not enough for me, but it's the first game I've scored so I am happy."

The stiff hamstring which led to his substitution is unlikely to prevent Nade from appearing against Inverness Caley Thistle tomorrow, when Hearts bid for a third SPL win in a row.

He may always struggle to keep his weight down, but is now in a decent physical shape. He is also far happier at Tynecastle than he was during the summer: as a result, his frame of mind is also greatly improved.

"It's not only with my fitness," he explained. "Things have been going on in my head.

"I lost my confidence, so it was really hard. I worked hard with the coach and everyone, everyone was behind me and when I went out on the pitch I was happy.

"Before, it was hard. It's paying off, so I am happy. The manager has changed the dressing room. There have been changes and it's good."

Still, although he praised Csaba Laszlo, Nade also hinted that the coach's preferred 4-5-1 formation was not ideal for him. "It's really hard to score because we play one up front. It's easy for the midfielders because I have to keep the ball for them.

"I don't create a lot of chances for myself, so when I shoot it's maybe from 25 yards. (But] now we are starting to play together and they are helping me more."

Signed for £500,000 from Sheffield United in the summer of 2007, Nade scored five goals in his first season with Hearts. The last was the only goal in a league match at Pittodrie back in January – and in fact that remained Nade's last goal for the club until Wednesday night.

"Of course I thought about how long it had been since I scored a goal," he admitted. "Everywhere I went people were saying to me 'You have to score, you have to score', and it can be hard.

"I think the fans need to understand that it can be hard to play on your own up front. It was hard as well, because my fitness was not the best, but I have tried to work hard."

Taken from the Scotsman