Stuart Findlay admitted that he has been a reluctant bystander as has sat on the sidelines recovering from injury, but now the big defender is back to help Hearts push for that long-awaited league title.
The Glasgow-born central defender is in contention for a slot as Motherwell visit Tynecastle in the last William Hill Premiership fixture of the season on Saturday (kick-off 15.00) before the split.
And Findlay said: “It was not a great time to get injured with so many important games, and you feel for the fans a lot as it is a lot more nerve-wracking watching the games then when you are actually on the pitch.
“The boys have done well and we are at a position we wanted to be at this stage. Hopefully, I can help the guys push on for the last six games.”
Commenting on the club’s recent form, he admitted: “Home games have been OK but some of the away games have been difficult. Going to my old ground, Kilmarnock, it was not ideal sitting watching the game (Hearts lost 1-0).
“There are going to be some bumps on the road, but we still have a position where we would have been more than happy to be (earlier in the season) and we have to capitalise on that.”
Reflecting on last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Livingston, Findlay, currently on loan from English Championship side, Oxford United, said there was an air of disappointment in the dressing-room straight after the final whistle, especially after battling back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 and then conceding.
But the 30-year-old, who is set to join the Jambos on a permanent deal in the summer, revealed: “I was in the changing room after the Kilmarnock game and there was a very bad atmosphere as you can imagine. Fast forward one week when we won and others didn’t and all of a sudden you feel on top of the world again.
“There are always going to be high emotions at this stage of the season.”
Hearts job was to record a “positive result” on Saturday and then to wait and see what happens elsewhere and he added: “All we can focus on now is the week ahead.
“Motherwell have proved to be very tough opponents. Our job is to go out there and get the victory and be in the best position possible.”
BUDDIES IN ARMS: Stuart Finlay (centre) shares a joke in training. Picture Nigel Duncan
