Sunday, December 22, 2024
SportHeartsHearts boss Robbie Neilson insists players are relishing Rangers visit

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson insists players are relishing Rangers visit

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Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson insists his players are relishing Wednesday’s ‘huge’ Premiership visit of Rangers after dismantling Motherwell.

A Bjorn Johnsen brace and Jamie Walker effort gave the Gorgie outfit their first win in five matches on Saturday.

And knowing victory will lift his team above Rangers into second place, Neilson insists they cannot wait for the clash against their Ibrox counterparts.

heartsNeilson, who insists Callum Paterson will be available after the Scotland defender was forced off with a head knock in the first half, said: “It’s huge for us, it’s a massive game and a great game to be involved in – it’s a while since they’ve been there.

“We’ve had good results previously against them here in recent times and it’s a great game to be involved in.

“The players are already looking at the Rangers game, it brings that excitement to go and perform and get a result.”

Neilson insists there is still more to come from American marksman Johnsen after watching the player take his tally for the season to four.

He added: “Bjorn is a good player, it’s taken him a wee while to get used to the way Scottish football is.

“He came from Bulgaria and he hadn’t really played since January.

“It was important we gave him time I think he showed that he has real quality but he has to show that through.

“He’s been paying well the last couple of games he’s been involved.

“I think you can see he is a handful, his fitness levels aren’t where they could be, he’s still got a bit to go.”

Well boss Mark McGhee said: “We were overpowered and I thought Hearts were excellent, they played against our shape and made it difficult.

“Hearts worked really hard, passed the ball a lot better than us and took their chances. We were beaten by the better team.”

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