BY IAIN COLLIN – Capital City Press
Gary Oliver insists his decision to leave Hearts for Queen of the South has already been vindicated as he prepares to try and down former city rivals Hibernian.
The 20-year-old left Hearts last month in search of more regular first-team football and has played the entirety of the Doonhamers’ last three matches.
Oliver, who started just six times for the Jambos after making his debut in August 2013, felt the lack of game-time at Tynecastle was in danger of hindering his career.
But he is now hopeful things are about to take off as he tries to make the transition from promising youth to top-team regular.
He said: “I’m delighted with the amount of first-team football I’ve been getting since moving to Queens.
“That’s three 90 minutes I’ve played three weeks in a row, and that’s what I came for, so I can’t ask for much more.
“More goals would be nice but I’m sure that will come.
“I’m 100 per cent enjoying every minute of it. I’m playing every week and that’s what I came to the club for.
“The gaffer seems to like me and he’s giving me game time.
“I was only getting five or 10 minutes at the end of games for Hearts. That wasn’t really developing me as a player, so that’s why I came here, to play games and I’m enjoying it.
“I’m at a bad age. It’s a wee bit too old for youth football and a wee bit too young for the first-team, but I’ve settled in quite well and I’m enjoying it.”
Aftermaking the promotion play-offs last season, Queens have endured a topsy-turvy start to this term and have now gone six games without a win, although their goalless draw with Falkirk last Friday was their second in a row.
Their last victory, their third in as many league games, came way back on August 22, but Oliver is hopeful their fortunes are about to change.
He added: “We’ve been doing a lot better in the last few games and it was a good result away from home against Falkirk, who are a decent side.
“We just need to take it game by game and try and win as many as we can, and see where that takes us.”
@IainCollin
