Enckelman braced for baptism of fire

Hearts manager John McGlynn will assess this morning whether Jamie MacDonald is in the right frame of mind to face Liverpool after the goalkeeper became the father of a baby daughter yesterday.

Peter Enckelman is on stand-by to make his debut for the club in the sold-out Europa League play-off match at Tynecastle. Enckelman only signed for Hearts on Friday after the back-up Mark Ridgers suffered a knee injury while on Scotland Under-21 duty. Despite signing after the European deadline for tonight’s fixture, the Tynecastle club were given special dispensation to allow the goalkeeper to feature in the Europa League campaign.

MacDonald informed his manager of the unfolding drama yesterday morning with the goalkeeper and his partner having made a late dash to hospital on Tuesday before the baby eventually arrived yesterday afternoon.

“I got a text from Jamie MacDonald as I arrived to say his partner had been in hospital since 4am but the baby hadn’t arrived,” said McGlynn speaking at the press conference yesterday morning.

“He came in later in the afternoon on Tuesday, he’d gone to hospital in the morning but was sent home and then he went back in through the night” he explained.

Enckelman had been training with Preston North End for a spell after being released by St Johnstone at the end of last season.

“It was a mutual thing; they wanted to see me and I wanted to see the club,” he said. “Obviously I wasn’t for them and they weren’t for me.” The former Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa ‘keeper will simply be happy to be involved in the squad tonight after being without a club at the start of the 
season.

Speaking yesterday, before the birth, Enckelman said: “I would be very, very sorry for Jamie if he cannot make the game. He has been working hard for a number of years now. I am sure he will be playing. I am sure he is kicking his wife’s backside to get the kid out as soon as possible. As far as I know, the baby will arrive. I don’t know all the ins and outs but he is hopeful he will be available, anyway.”

Enckelman did, however, insist he was ready to step into the breach if necessary, although no-one could pretend he has had the ideal preparation for a game against Liverpool. Just a week ago he was watching a fringe show in Edinburgh’s Bristo Square while wondering where his career would take him next.

He has kept himself fit by running in the streets of Edinburgh, where he lives and the call to help out Hearts could have not come at a better time and nor could it have been more convenient.

“I am sure that was part of the decision making as well because from the club’s point of view I was already living in Edinburgh,” he said. “I already know the city so it is very easy to come in to training. It was ideal for me. It is only until January but at least it is something. I am just looking forward to being here, Hearts is a great club to be at.”

Taken from the Scotsman