Tomas Bent Magnusson sat in the dugout at a packed and raucous Tynecastle soaking up the atmosphere after his work permit application came through only hours before Hearts were due to kick-off against Aberdeen.
Then came the moment. Derek McInnes told him to get ready and the tall midfielder donned a maroon shirt for the first time.
The clock said 90 minutes when he made his first steps onto the Gorgie pitch, coming on for skipper Lawrence Shankland, and, around 30 minutes later, the Icelander was thrust into the spotlight again, this time in a media room packed with representatives from Sky Sports and the national and local media.
So, what did the 22-year-old think about Tynecastle? One word: “Crazy.”
The new boy can’t wait until the next time that McInnes, Hearts’ head coach, gives him the nod. Could he make his full debut on Sunday when Hearts travel to Tayside to meet Dundee United (kick-off 15.00)?
Magnusson talked at length to McInnes and Graeme Jones, Hearts’ sporting director, before putting pen to paper, but he did not hesitate to sign when the Jambos came calling.
McInnes believes the player will bring a presence to the midfield and the 22-year-old described himself as being a guy that gives it all and is a ball winner.
He has joined for an undisclosed fee from Reykjavik-based Valur FC and has a league cup winners’ medal to his name as well as being a key element in a promotion-winning squad.
The newcomer has also tasted European football, and he loved his first Tynecastle experience.
Magnusson said he could not sum up the last few days, signing, coming to Scotland and making his debut, but added: “It has all gone so quickly and I made my debut and I can’t wait to move on to the next game.”
And on his first taste of the special Gorgie atmosphere, the player, who has a good command of English, added: “I have never experienced this before but, if it is like this every game, I can’t wait for the next one.”
He explained the motivation behind the move from Icelandic football to the physical William Hill Premiership and said: “Hearts are a big club and when I heard they wanted me I did not hesitate.
“After the contact was made with Valur, I spoke to the gaffer (McInnes) and Graeme (Jones) as well as they told me what the plans were for the club and how they see everything moving forward.
”They have ambition. They want to win titles and that is what I want to do.”
Photo Malcolm Mackenzie / Hearts FC
