Andy Driver told to maintain fine Hearts form

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on 17/12/2012 12:00

JOHN McGLYNN today 
implored Andy Driver to maintain the fine form he showed against St Johnstone or risk losing his place in the Hearts team. Driver produced his finest performance of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw in Perth, scoring one goal and setting up the other to leave his manager “delighted”.

Speaking to the Evening News, McGlynn explained the importance of wingers playing consistently at Hearts. Driver is competing with Arvydas Novikovas, Jamie Walker and Callum Paterson for wide berths and staked his claim for a regular starting place at McDiarmid Park.

“I’m delighted Driver did 
really well on Saturday. He’s working really hard and he’s a good lad,” said McGlynn. “I’ve known him for a long time, since he was fourteen. I’ve worked with him right the way through and he’s a good guy to work with. He did exceptionally well and we are looking for him to kick on now.

“He’s had chances and

opportunities. We’ve got a good squad and good wide players. Jamie Walker had come in recently and done quite well. We’ve moved Callum Paterson out to wide right and he got a goal against Aberdeen. We also have Arvydas Novikovas, so we’re very fortunate to have good wide players. There is pressure on wingers to deliver all the time and sometimes they don’t. When that happens, the situation comes under review and I have to go and pick someone. If he goes in and does well, you maybe have to bide your time until it’s your opportunity again.

“Driver came on for 45 minutes against Hibs, he played against Aberdeen and he played again on Saturday. He scored a goal, he put the ball in for John Sutton’s goal, and he put other balls into the box during the game. It was his cross that John Sutton knocked down to Gordon Smith, and maybe he should score when we were 2-1 up. If the score had gone to 3-1 at that point then a two-goal cushion would probably have been enough for us. Our defence is normally solid enough to hold on to a two-goal lead.”

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