FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Hearts playmaker Jamie Walker is trying to focus on the future following his diving storm – but admits he is still disappointed with Celtic captain Scott Brown for branding him a cheat.
Walker won and scored a controversial penalty for the Gorgie side on the opening weekend of the Premiership season after falling to the ground under a challenge from Hoops defender Kieran Tierney.
Brendan Rodgers’ side still won the August 7 clash 2-1 courtesy of Scott Sinclair’s late strike but that did not stop midfielder Brown, who was also the Scotland skipper at the time, launching a verbal grenade.
Walker served a retrospective two-game SFA ban for conning referee John Beaton despite the club launching a defence of the player.
Even though Hampden chiefs effectively agreed with Brown, Walker reckons the Celtic player was out of order with his comments.
Walker said: “I was a bit disappointed in Scott Brown at the time. He was captain of the national team and to hear that from somebody like him was disappointing.
“I was disappointed to be handed the suspension, I thought I maybe had a case to get it overturned but it wasn’t to be. I’ve served my two-game ban and now I want to kick on.
“I just need to take the suspension on the chin and keep playing away.
“It’s part of the game and you just need to get on with it. Once I was away from here I just blanked it out but it was disappointing at the time.
“You can’t learn from this stuff, you just need to deal with it when it comes along. I think I dealt with it quite well.
“When you leave here, you put it out of your mind and just spend time with your family.
“It’s just part of the game and how you react. I think I reacted in a good way.”
Walker has made three league starts since that Hoops clash, including the 3-1 victory at Motherwell on their last outing before the international break.
And the talented attacker is keen to get his season kick-started.
Walker, who hopes to be included in Robbie Neilson’s starting line-up for today’s visit of Dundee, added: “I’ve done reasonably well since I came back from my suspension. I’ve missed a few chances and could’ve scored a few goals.
“That’s obviously part of football. If you keep getting into the right areas, the goals will come.
“As a team we’ve done reasonably well. We’re sitting third and playing quite well, but I think if we really click we could be a right good side.
“We’re trying to get to the highest level possible every week. You obviously can’t play well every week but you need to try and get your performance as high as possible.”
Walker has come through the Hearts ranks with Callum Paterson and admits seeing the defender cement his place as Scotland’s recognised right-back is inspiring.
Paterson picked up his fourth cap in Tuesday’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Slovakia.
He said: “It’s a credit to Callum how far he’s come over the last couple of years. I think, over the two games, he did reasonably well.
“Everyone is delighted for him and hopefully more players can make that step up to international level.
“As a player, you want to play at the highest level. To play for Scotland would be fantastic.
“Everyone is just concentrating on playing well here and you never know where it might take you.
“I scored a lot of goals when I came back from injury last season so I thought I would maybe have a chance, but it never came. I need to keep working hard and just see where it takes me.”
