Rotherham 0 Hearts 1

From WILLIE COCHRANE at New York Stadium
Published: 30th July 2012

JOHN SUTTON had to watch his Hearts team-mates lift the Scottish Cup on a dodgy internet stream from the other side of the world.

Now he’s back in the picture at Tynecastle — and dreaming of another Jambos glory day he can really connect with.

Sutton was shipped out on loan to Australian side Central Coast Mariners by then boss Paulo Sergio for the second half of last season.

But the striker must have felt like he’d been sent to Siberia as his Jambos team-mates embarked on a Cup glory run that culminated in a dream Hampden thrashing of arch-rivals Hibs.

Sutton — who helped Mariners top the A-League and still not finish champions due to a baffling Aussie set-up — didn’t even see much of the final as his web feed kept breaking up. So while he was thrilled for his team-mates, he was also gutted he couldn’t feel part of the club’s big day.

Just weeks after his Jambos career looked over, he starts the season as new boss John McGlynn’s main striker and is desperate for the chance to savour Hearts glory in the flesh.

Sutton, who took his pre-season goals haul to three in four games with the winner against Rotherham on Saturday, said: “I watched the Cup final on the internet in Australia but it kept breaking up. That was the day before my flight back. But it was a little bit difficult for me being so far away.

“My team in Australia were quite succesful but I can’t say I wasn’t a little bit jealous of how well the boys at Hearts were doing.

“Of course I was pleased for my friends but at the same time it was the first Hearts-Hibs final for so many years.

“With the nature of the win against Celtic in the semi-final, it would have been great to be in the dressing room and be a part of that too.

“Winning the league in Australia was great — although it goes to a grand final to decide the champions and we lost in the play-offs — but at the same time it feels a bit distant.

“All my friends and wife’s family are in Scotland so it would be nice to win a medal here.

“Now the Rangers situation gives a chance to every club. Motherwell are in the Champions League this season and there’s been a high turnover of players and a lot of people have left but hopefully we can challenge for second.”

Despite being frozen out under Sergio last season, Sutton insists he NEVER stopped believing he could resurrect his Hearts career.

The hitman, signed by Jim Jefferies from Motherwell last summer weeks before Sergio took the helm, said: “I went on loan for various reasons but before I went I said I always wanted to do well for Hearts and that’s never changed.

“I can’t go into the reasons why I was sent on loan but I don’t think it was necessarily all to do with the old manager not rating me as a player.

“Certainly, I didn’t get that much playing time under him. But nothing has changed from the point of view I’ve still got to play very well and there’s a lot of competition for places.

“It’s fair to say the boys did tremendously well last season so I can’t knock anything but from a personal point of view the new manager has probably given me a bit more of a chance to do well.

“It’s nice to be back but it doesn’t count for anything yet. The real business will start next week.

“We got one of the cups last season and that final will go down in history but hopefully we’ll get some silverware again.”