Hearts 0 Liverpool XI 1: Jambo karaoke kings will be in tune for the start of the season

Gordon Parks

29 Jul 2013 09:26

HEARTS lost out to a Liverpool XI in Belfast, but goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald believes it won't be long before they are all on song.
Billy King on the ball in Belfast Billy King on the ball in Belfast
Russell Pritchard/Presseye

JAMIE MacDONALD insists Hearts will start the season in perfect harmony after the squad spent last week belting out tunes in Belfast.

The Jambos keeper believes impromptu karaoke sessions sandwiched between their pre-season double-header against Crusaders and Liverpool across the Irish Sea have them finely tuned for Sunday’s Premiership opener at St Johnstone.

Despite the Tynecastle side’s financial troubles, MacDonald reckons the club’s on-field preparations are bang on track after the band of teenagers who have been promoted into the first team squad proved to be Top of the Pops.

The 27-year-old delivered his own rendition of Maggie May – but some of the new faces suffered from stage fright.

MacDonald said: “We have quite a good team spirit going now, wee trips like this and a couple of days away together really help.

“The other night we had a few of the younger lads up singing. It was their first trip away so we had a bit of an initiation and a bit of fun.

“It brings everyone closer together. It’s the first trip away and the new lads have to do a little song.

“We had Sam Nicholson and Jordan McGhee doing Broken Strings. I would have given them a good seven out of 10 for their duet, it was a pretty solid effort.

“We were all standing on our chairs with our spoons.

“Wee Gary Oliver and Adam King sang Stand By Me and that was not bad either – not as good as the first two were – but I would have given them a five out of 10.

“You could see they were nervous and their knees were certainly shaking a bit but it was all good banter for them and it is nice to get everyone integrated together.”

A 2-0 win over Crusaders on Thursday night was followed by a defeat to a young Liverpool XI on Saturday in the final match of a six-game pre-season programme ahead of their trip to McDiarmid Park.

The emphasis on attempting to remain a competitive force despite having their squad decimated this summer due to the cost-cutting was clear against the Anfield side as a raft of kids were asked to step up to the plate.

Brad McKay, Dale Carrick, Adam King and Nicholson were all given outings at the Oval Stadium in Belfast and MacDonald believes there has been safety in numbers for the youngsters making an influx into the top-team squad.

He said: “A good thing for them is that there are a lot of youngsters around the squad just now so it has probably been slightly easier for them to integrate because there are more of them.

“I remember when I stepped into the first-team for the first time, you are in a massive group of experienced professionals and it can be quite intimidating at times.

“There are obviously still a few experienced boys here to try to help some of the younger lads but I think they have integrated quite well.

“It’s good to have a mix, that’s what you want. You want a bit of everything and I suppose the older boys are trying to feel young again.

“It’s been very good, especially this little trip away because you’re all stuck together full-time.”

MacDonald admits he has selfish reasons for wanting St Johnstone to struggle in their Europa League qualifier this Thursday against FC Minsk. After praising the Perth side for progressing past Rosenborg last week, the Hearts No.1 said he will be happy if Saints are run off their feet in Belarus before facing the Jambos three days later.

He said: “It was a great result for St Johnstone the other night, you want to see the Scottish teams progressing. You want everyone to do well in the competitions.

“On Thursday night you want them to do well but at the same time you want them to get a bit of a chasing so they are maybe a bit fatigued for the game against us on Sunday.

“We want to start the league campaign as well as possible, especially with the 15-point deduction we have.

“We will be hoping they’re maybe feeling the effects of the Thursday night and hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

Hearts were sunk by a Kris Peterson strike against Liverpool on Saturday but the match was overshadowed by an injury to Scotland under-21 kid Callum Tapping, who had to be stretchered from the pitch, victim of a crude lunge from Jordan Lussey.

The midfielder will be assessed at the club’s training ground this morning although the damage isn’t expected to be as serious as first feared as he travelled home from Belfast in a protective boot with bruising to a shin.

Jambos boss Gary Locke is optimistic the youngster will be able to make a quickfire recovery from an incident which left him fearing the worst. And the gaffer admits he can’t wait to get the new season underway.

He said: “I’m hoping Callum is going to be OK but we will need to wait 24 hours to see what the damage is.

“He has suffered a bang on the leg during a nasty tackle. But he’s been up and walking about which is a good sign.

“It was a competitive game and similar to an SPL match where there were loads of tackles flying in.

“But now we just want to get on with the football and it’s about looking forward to facing St Johnstone on Sunday.

“We’ve had six pre-season games which I feel is enough and hopefully we are now ready to hit the ground running.

St Johnstone have pledged to donate £1 from every adult or senior citizen match ticket sold to travelling fans on Sunday to the 1874 Hearts Fighting Fund and Locke was thrilled by the generous gesture.

He said: “It’s great the way everyone has rallied around our club and if St Johnstone are doing that then it’s terrific.

“From what I can gather there will a large travelling support from Hearts going through to Perth.

“I want to thank St Johnstone for their magnificent help.”

Taken from the Daily Record