Tomas Bent Magnusson, to give him his full name, has admitted that the physical nature and the pace of Scottish football had taken him by surprise, but it has developed his game.
The Iceland-born midfielder is progressing game by game and has started fixtures in recent weeks, a fact which has galvanised the media in his native country to take a real interest.
The fact that the Men in Maroon are top of the William Hill Premiership has added to the media pick-up and Magnusson joked: “There is something to talk about and it is not the Old Firm (Celtic and Rangers).”
Overall, the player believes he has settled in fine to life in Gorgie and added: “Feet under the table and I am catching up.”
Mentally, being picked to start games has been a boost to the newcomer who boasts a league cup winners’ medal in Iceland with Valur and was part of a promotion-winning side.
Magnusson, who is 6ft 1in tall, is described as a “tall, energetic central midfielder”, and he has worked hard to break into the Jambos first team.
It is a big squad and the player conceded that competition for places is tough and he added: “Different story coming on in games, but it has helped me get to know how the Scottish game is played.”
He is a different type of player to Beni Baningime. He claims his strength is getting into the boxes, but the 23-year-old, who made his debut in early August after joining for an undisclosed fee, added: “The physicality and the pace of the game is different, back and forth, it is non-stop, and these are the two biggest things.
“Yes, I am quite tall and I can run, but it was still a shock to me when I came because, back home, I was running a lot. Coming here, I thought it would not be that hard an adjustment, but it was and it is faster (n Scotland).”
Asked if the move to Scotland had developed his career, Magnusson said that it had definitely added to his game and he said: “Training sessions etc, I feel I am improving as a player.”
IN FOCUS: Magnusson faces the media at The Oriam press conference. Picture Nigel Duncan
