Ryan Stevenson rues being stuck out of the middle

Published Date: 02 October 2011
By Moira Gordon
RYAN STEVENSON has delighted himself with the giant strides he has made in his career over the past few years but now he would be happy if he could take a few steps back.
Not back to plying his trade in the lower leagues but back into a central midfield slot where he feels he would produce even better performances than those which have earned high praise this term.

Considered one of Hearts' most consistent and integral performers this season, the former Ayr United man has spent it bolstering the forward line. For a man who considers himself a central midfielder it has been a compromise. But it's one he is willing to make if it secures him a lengthy run in the team and earns him a new contract.'

His current deal expires at the end of this season and the 27-year-old's representatives are already in discussions with the Gorgie club in the hope of extending it. And, while he would prefer to be given a platform to perform in midfield, he says he will not be using the negotiations to start laying down ultimatums.

"They've expressed an interest in keeping me but it's early days," he says. "It's just about playing well, trying to score goals and the contract stuff will take care of itself. I'm in a privileged position in that I get to play football as a job, to come in every day and train. There's no point in getting precious about these things. I'm not the type to spit the dummy out. I've been at the bottom of the barrel and it's taken me a long time to work my way up. I've got to play in big games - derby games, the ones against Spurs and so on. I'd rather play left-back than be left on the bench for these games.

"(Up front] is not exactly where I want to be playing but it's that old saying that I'd play wherever the manager wants me to. That's been the story for me since I came to Hearts. I've played up front, wide right and wide left. It's obviously frustrating because you want to play in your natural position and, for me, that's in the centre of midfield but, having said that, it would probably feel strange going back to that now I've been up front for so long. You've got to be professional about these things. I'm happy enough, though I'm obviously still learning the position.

"I want to do better within myself. That's where it's frustrating, because I know I could do better in midfield, but the team is more important. I want to do well for myself and play at the highest level I possibly can."

Having ended last season as a stand-in for the injured Kevin Kyle, new Tynecastle manager Paulo Sergio has utilised Stevenson as the preferred foil for Stephen Elliot in the early stages of the current campaign. But Stevenson has no idea if the manager considers that his long-term berth.

"He hasn't really said much to me since he's come in. He picks the team and, as long as I'm starting, I'm happy. I think he probably only knows me as a forward player.

Taken from the Scotsman