Tapping: "I want to be a Hearts regular"
25.04.2013

Callum Tapping insists Scotland is the place to be for young players trying to make a name for themselves.

The Scotland U21 cap has featured in 12 top team games this season and he feels that the opportunities on offer north of the border should be an attractive prospect to any player.
Article continues
Advertisement

Speaking to media ahead of Saturday's Dundee match, Callum said: "It's been a good season for me. At the start of the season I'd never have expected to have played as many games as I have now. Trying to maintain your place is hard, and being in and out of the team is difficult but once you deal with it its fine. I'm enjoying it all so far.

"When I went down to Tottenham it was more of a learning experience, I saw it as a 'going back to school' kind of thing. I took it as a stepping stone to improve. I would recommend to all other people (to come to Scotland), coming up here has been a great opportunity for me.

"I got my chance this season and for a lot of young boys, with the way Scottish football is at moment, it's a great opportunity to play. My aim is to be a Hearts regular at some point. It's a matter of time and how I deal with it and how things go."

'Tappy' also spent part of this season at promotion-chasing Alloa Athletic, and he's grateful for the time spent learning from Hearts great Paul Hartley.

"Alloa was a great experience," he revealed. "Playing my first bit of league football, I obviously realised that it was different from playing at youth and U20s level. Having Paul Hartley around you, who's played in midfield and is a Hearts legend, is always good to have on your side too.

"Every game, every week he was dropping bits of advice in for me. He was letting me know what I should've been doing better and what he thinks would help me and my game to progress, so it all helped."

Hearts World