BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
DON COWIE is adamant Steven Naismith is ready to make up for lost time after the Scotland internationalist bagged his first goal in Hearts colours.
The 31-year-old has endured a frustrating start to his career at Tynecastle after joining on loan from Norwich in January, with a hamstring strain restricting him to a watching brief in encounters against St Johnstone and Ross County before a brief cameo as a substitute in last weekend’s defeat at Rangers.
However, Naismith marked his return to the starting line-up in style on a snowy Tuesday night at Tynecastle as his clinical header secured a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock, extending the Jambos’ unbeaten record at home to 12 matches.
And Cowie has no doubt Hearts’ marquee winter signing is destined to play a pivotal role in the remainder of the campaign, with a mouth-watering Scottish Cup semi-final against Motherwell on Sunday up next.
The Jambos midfielder said: “It’s been a frustrating two weeks for him, he thought he was going to be fit a couple of times but didn’t quite make it, so to see him back out there was great – especially completing 90 minutes and getting his first goal.
“That can only be good for us because he is a top quality player, we all know that. He has played international football throughout his career.
“The club pulled out all the stops to get Steven and it’s been frustrating that he hasn’t been able to play more. But now we have a massive game on Sunday and hopefully with that 90 minutes under his belt, he’ll be ready and raring to go.
“He’s a sensible person and experienced. He knows he was close to fitness in the last couple of games, but he made the right decision and I’m sure that will mean we see the best of him in the longer term between now and the end of the season.”
While a point was the least Kilmarnock deserved from their trip to Edinburgh, Hearts almost completed a smash-and-grab triumph when referee Don Robertson pointed to the penalty spot following a foul by Youssouf Mulumbu on Kyle Lafferty.
However, the Jambos’ top-scorer fluffed his lines from 12 yards and Jamie MacDonald made a fine low save.
Cowie concedes that the Northern Irishman will need lifted in the coming days – but has no doubt Lafferty will be the first to put his hand up to take another penalty at Fir Park this weekend.
He continued: “Kyle will need lifted a wee bit after that. His head was down in the dressing room, but we’ll pick him up and make sure he is ready to go again.
“If we get a penalty against Motherwell I’m sure he’ll be first one wanting to take it. He is that sort of person, that sort of player. He has a striker’s instincts and wants to score goals. Anyone can miss a penalty but it’s about having he courage to take the next one. Kyle has that.
“People miss penalties all the time, we move on. We wanted him to score, he didn’t. That’s it.”
Cowie, meanwhile, was in no mood to play down the significance of Sunday’s encounter with the Steelmen as Hearts seek to reach their first Scottish Cup semi-final since 2012, when they went onto famously lift the trophy with a comprehensive triumph over Hibs.
He added: “Hearts need to be getting to the latter stages of cup competitions and we have not managed that.
“This is my first quarter-final here and I’ll not be hiding what a massive game it is. It will be tough, Motherwell have improved since the transfer window and have re-energised their squad. It will be a hard game but one we believe we can come through.”
