Hearts' Andrew Driver relishes chance to get back in the fast lane

The Tynecastle winger is hoping to put two years of injuries behind him to showcase his skills against Tottenham

Ewan Murray

Andrew Driver has been tipped often enough to be lining up against English opposition, but nobody had a Europa League play-off against Tottenham in the colours of Hearts in mind. But the fact he will do so on Thursday highlights a story of arrested development.

Tynecastle regulars choose to laugh rather than cry about Driver's recent injury record, which has stalled hopes of a move to England. When the winger scored against Paks SE recently, Hearts' stadium announcer hailed Driver's "first goal in about six years". The reality is not quite so grim. Still, a player who won an England Under-21 cap in 2009 has essentially seen two years of his hitherto impressive development halted by fitness issues. Knee surgery, a torn thigh muscle and a hernia operation are just three of the problems that have rendered Driver unable to play regular football since 2009.

"It has been two years of a nightmare where I have been continuously injured," he says. "It is tough, it has held me back for two years. I have had two years of improving that I have missed."

As Hearts prepare to face Spurs on Thursday, Driver has more cause than most to relish the limelight. A direct, orthodox left-winger, Driver is understandably keen to seize an opportunity to test himself against illustrious opponents, Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon potentially among them.

"These guys are a similar age to me and where I feel I want to be eventually. Hopefully by going up against them I will realise the difference in level," Driver says. "Playing against these players in a competitive match is exciting, something you don't expect. If you play a couple of good games against Tottenham, it will raise your stock massively. It is a chance to up your game that extra level and, if you can't up your game, to learn what you have to do to be able to get to that level."

Hearts' decision to rebuff a £2.5m bid from Burnley for Driver's services – £3.5m was sought up front – looks to some like merely another indicator of Vladimir Romanov's erratic stewardship of the Edinburgh club. The flip side is that the valuation put on Driver, as recently as last summer, highlights his talent.

In the immediate future Driver has to remind the Hearts support of that level of ability. Within that group, there are elements of scepticism. "It is to be expected. You know what football is like," the winger says. "People can get forgotten in two minutes and people can get made in two minutes. I know if I get one good season under my belt here, get a number of games and start playing well, then the last two years would be forgotten anyway."

There has been frustration, too, for Driver's international ambitions. Amid a very public process, the Scotland manager, Craig Levein, convinced Driver to switch allegiance. The 23-year-old, born in Oldham before a family move to East Lothian, speaks with a clear Lancashire accent but now wants to wear the navy blue of Scotland. "I saw Craig at our game the other day and we had a brief conversation. He was basically just telling me to take it easy and not rush it," Driver explains. "Craig gives you encouragement, he's been through injuries himself so he knows what it is like."

Spurs are the clear favourites to progress to the Europa League's group phase at Hearts' expense. That notion is offset in part by Harry Redknapp's admission that the competition ranks well down his list of priorities. With meetings against both Manchester clubs falling after each leg of the Hearts tie, intrigue surrounds the strength of Redknapp's European selections. The Hearts following care little about that: tickets for the Scots' areas at Tynecastle and White Hart Lane have become like gold dust.

"I have heard rumours they are going to play their reserves but I personally hope they play their first team so we can really test ourselves," Driver says. "Let's be honest, they have got a team that will be challenging, no matter who they put out. If they field their reserves they will be hungry to get into the first team anyway. Their reserve team is probably worth around £100m."

And as for Hearts' confidence? "There's going to be a real good buzz around Edinburgh, it's a big game and you can already feel the hype towards it. It's a really exciting time. We all watch Match of the Day at the weekend, we probably know their players just as much as we know the players up here which might give us a little advantage because they don't know who they are going to be playing against.

"It is a game that we can't lose. It is one of those games where sometimes you can end up playing better because there is absolutely no pressure on you."

Redknapp and his players can consider themselves warned.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer