A fare player

Each morning the car park at Hearts’ Riccarton training campus fills up with expensive Audis and BMWs as the Jambos’ big names report for duty.

But it’s a different story for McHattie, 19, who hops on the number 25 near his digs in Longstone — and pays his £1.50 fare for the ten-minute journey to work.

McHattie insists he will learn to drive and will resume lessons in the summer.

The rookie defender confirmed there will come a stage soon when he hopes to splash out on a decent motor.

In the meantime he reckons the short trips have kept his feet on the ground during a season where he has been fast-tracked into Hearts’ first team.

McHattie, who aims to KO Kilmarnock today, said: “It does keep you level headed and it does not bother me that I don’t have a car.

“I get on the bus every day, pay my £1.50 to come to training and keep myself to myself.

“I don’t get any stick about it because the boys are not bothered.

“Mind you I think most of them don’t even know I don’t drive because I'm first in and last out every day!

“But it is great as far as I am concerned. I have been in my digs there for nearly three years now.

“Longstone is a big Hearts area and the family I stay with are all Jambos as well.

“They ask me questions all the time about what is going on and it is all good.

“It allows me to focus on my football which is what I want to do.

“I go home when I can to see my mum and dad in Fife, and I go home to see my girlfriend as well, but having digs so close is great for me. I will learn to drive. I have started lessons, but they were always on a Sunday morning.

“After some of the games we have had this season all I have wanted to do then is rest.” McHattie has been one of Hearts’ few success stories in a difficult year for the Jambos on and off the field. Along with the likes of Jason Holt, Jamie Walker and Callum Tapping he is seen as the future of Hearts.

Former boss John McGlynn handed the teenager his debut on the opening day of the season against St Johnstone.

Soon after that, Hearts informed Danny Grainger that they viewed McHattie as his long-term successor.

A dip in form then saw McHattie sit on the sidelines for a spell.

But when Grainger suffered a season ending cruciate injury McHattie was given another chance. He will play his 18th game of the season when the Jambos visit Rugby park today.

The left-back admits the campaign has been a huge learning curve up to now.

He experienced the high of reaching the League Cup Final and the low of losing it to St Mirren.

He revealed a mauling at the hands of Celtic’s Adam Matthews back in January also took a bit of getting over.

McHattie added: “It’s been a poor season for Hearts, but a great year for me. The season has had everything, it has been a real learning curve with lots of ups and downs.

“The best thing about it for me has just been getting so many games under my belt.

“When I came into the pre-season I was in with the Under-20s and I thought I would play week in week out for them.

“But things have changed at Tynecastle and that has meant a dramatic difference for me.

“At the start of the season the nerves kicked in.

“But as each game goes by I think I am getting stronger and stronger.

“Everything at this level is different. The will to win is massive, you have basically just got to win so there have been a few lows as well. Celtic are the hardest team I have faced. We lost 4-1 to them at Parkhead last January. Adam Matthews’ pace was frightening that day.

“I just came off shaking my head after that gamed. I don’t think we quite knew what had hit us.

“They were great on the day and we could not match it. When that happens the senior boys will have a go at us because they are disappointed as well.

“But they pick us up and fill us with confidence and we get going again. They have been great with us.

“They have been with us every step which is fantastic for someone like me and I give them great credit for that.”

Jambos gaffer Gary Locke insists his side still have plenty to play for over the closing weeks of the campaign.

McHattie does not want to take his foot off the gas as he looks to end the season on a high.

He said: “I just want to keep on developing and working on my game between now and the end of the season.

“We have to try and win every game we have left in the bottom six and try and finish in seventh place.

“If we can do that it will mean we finish the campaign on a high.”