Hearts defender John Souttar insists the club’s newcomers are in for a shock when they are greeted by a thunderous wall of noise in today’s visit of Celtic.
Among manager Craig Levein’s 13 summer signings, the likes of Zdenek Zlamal, Ben Garuccio, Olly Lee, Uche Ikpeazu, Peter Haring and Steven MacLean are set to get their first taste of what is recognised as one of Scottish football’s most explosive fixtures.
And after playing in front of the relative serenity of Hamilton’s Hope CBD Stadium before 3,800 supporters, Souttar insists the atmosphere and the intensity of the clash will be completely different for the televised lunch-time kick off.
Souttar, who missed last December’s 4-0 thrashing of the Bhoys at Tynecastle in a game that ended Celtic’s record-breaking 69-game unbeaten domestic run, said: “I think they will be in a for a wee shock at the weekend.
“Once the game starts it can often pass you by but you have just got to enjoy it. It is why you become a footballer, to play at Tynecastle, on a Saturday against Celtic, there is nothing better so you’ve got to enjoy it.
“The guys who have come in are all good players so the crowd shouldn’t be an issue for them.
“I think just to play at Tynecastle, in front of a full house, I think that’s what the new players are looking forward to.
“When you sign for Hearts you hear all about the Tynecastle atmosphere and that is what you look forward to and that is what the guys will be thinking.
“They will be thinking that they have done the hard work of going to Hamilton, and then played the early cup games where there wasn’t much of a crowd, so they will be looking forward to playing on front of a full Tynecastle.”
