Hearts winger David Templeton linked with Rangers move

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on Thursday 30 August 2012 00:00

DAVID Templeton could play his last game for Hearts tonight at Anfield after becoming the subject of serious interest from Rangers.

Templeton was identified by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers as one of the Edinburgh club’s most effective players in last week’s Europa League play-off first leg, which Hearts lost 1-0.

Tynecastle manager John McGlynn made no specific mention last night of the winger when asked about possible comings and goings before the transfer window closes, but acknowledged that Hearts would probably have to accept a substantial bid for any player.

“Possibly we could lose players – that’s the state of affairs in Scotland,” McGlynn said when asked what the club’s likely reaction to a bid for a player would be. “If that was the case we’d have to deal with it. If we get young players coming through and they do well, then in the current climate I’d imagine Hearts will have to sell. It might crop up and we have to accept that and deal with it. I’m not convinced on ins or outs.”

McGlynn would dearly love to hold on to Templeton and his other leading players, having inherited a squad which lost 
several of its key performers over the summer. But he took over as manager in the knowledge that cuts were being made, and fully understands the desire of club owner Vladimir Romanov to get Hearts operating under more prudent financial circumstances.

Transfer dealings at Tynecastle tend to be done by business staff rather than the manager, and McGlynn would not necessarily be aware of any interest in Templeton until negotiations were at an advanced stage. It would clearly be a bittersweet occasion for the 23-year-old Glaswegian if he were to leave Hearts in the coming days, especially given the divide in his family. His full name is David Cooper Templeton, thanks to his father, who wanted him called after Ibrox legend Davie Cooper. But the rest of his family were Celtic supporters, as he recalled two years ago.

“I didn’t really like my name growing up, to be honest,” he said. “My dad left and I went to my mum’s side, who were all Celtic fans, so I ended up following them. So it was odd being a Celtic fan called Davie Cooper. I got a bit of stick when I was younger.

“I don’t know why I got the name, because I’ve an older brother. It’s weird: you see it in the programme as David Cooper Templeton, but I’d rather just be known as my own name.

“He was known as an unbelievable player, and if I could get anywhere to half as good as he was then it would be amazing. When I was younger, [Henry Templeton] always told me about him and I saw a few videos of him. Obviously what I saw was amazing. The way he just went past people made it look so easy. That’s what I liked about him, being a winger.

“It was good for me watching players like that. I grew up as a Celtic fan, but I loved watching Brian Laudrup because of the way he played.”

Even if Templeton turns on the skill as never before tonight, McGlynn knows his team face an uphill task if they are to win the tie and progress to the group stages, and said a victory would be indelibly etched into the club’s history.

“It would be massive. Massive. To come here a goal down and yet get through. It would be remembered forever if we could do that. That’s the size of the task we’ve got. So it’s a difficult task, but if we can get the first goal it’s game on. We felt we were worthy of a draw [in the first leg] and might even have sneaked a 1-0 ourselves. The lads put up a really good show.”

Only a late own goal by Andy Webster separates the sides going into the second leg, and McGlynn will call on his team to put in a similarly defiant display tonight, hoping that the little luck which went against them last week will be with them this evening. The key, he is sure, will be to keep things tight during the opening stages of the game, denying Liverpool the chance to bring their flair players into the game and, in the process, quietening the crowd.

“In the first leg we tried to make sure we didn’t let them get out the blocks. Hopefully the adrenalin rush will get that bit extra out of the players. It’s a massive task, and we’re probably going to have to do even better than the last time out. Nothing is impossible. We’ve got to believe in ourselves, don’t panic and be confident on the ball.

“We want to quieten their fans down. If you let them get steam up it could be a long, long game. We’re a young side, so I’d imagine there will be nerves. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Rising to challenges is a Scottish trait we’re reasonably good at.”

Marius Zaliukas is set to play after making a good recovery from the thigh strain that forced him off at half-time during the 0-0 game at Aberdeen four days ago, but there is a doubt over reserve goalkeeper Peter Enckelman. Otherwise, McGlynn has a full squad from which to choose.

Taken from the Scotsman