Hearts: 'I'm ready to come home' says new signing Ryan Stevenson

Hearts' new attacking midfielder can't wait to run on to Tynecastle turf and tackle Falkirk . . .

• New signing Ryan Stevenson (pictured in action for Ayr United) can't wait to make his Hearts debut

BY his own admission, Ryan Stevenson has suffered the absolute worst of Scottish football. Midweek trips to venues like Cowdenbeath's Central Park in the dead of winter rank as the epitome of misery in the midfielder's eyes.

Therefore, there will be no-one more thankful to be on the Tynecastle pitch tomorrow against Falkirk.

Stevenson is eagerly anticipating a home debut for Hearts almost two weeks since joining from First Division Ayr United. Added intrigue surrounds the game following yesterday's managerial changeover at Westfield, where the former Hearts captain Steven Pressley replaced Eddie May as head coach. That, however, is not primarily responsible for capturing Stevenson's imagination.

His excitement stems from a deep-rooted appreciation of his new surroundings, magnified by the humbling experiences which accompany life in the lower divisions. Since 2002, after leaving Chelsea, he has endured every colloquial terracing chant, every dilapidated dressing room and every crater-like pitch with first St Johnstone, then Ayr. All the while he clung to one hope: That he would one day progress to sample football on a higher platform again.

That ambition became reality when Jim Jefferies made the 25-year-old his first signing for Hearts. He debuted in Wednesday evening's defeat by Celtic at Parkhead and revelled in the atmosphere produced by one of Scotland's more salubrious stadiums. He is equally enthused by the prospect of appearing at Tynecastle tomorrow, mindful of precisely what he left behind.

"Just playing in the SPL appeals to me," said Stevenson. "Playing in front of big crowds at good stadiums appeals to me. I've been to probably the worst places in Scottish football. Cowdenbeath is the worst for me. I've never hidden that fact. I've played there seven or eight times and it just does not get any better.

"When you go to play at these places in the lower divisions and you go to take a throw-in, you hear exactly what people are saying to you. It's funny at times. The difference between that and the crowd I experienced on Wednesday night was just magnificent.

"As a professional footballer, these are the places you want to play at. It doesn't get any bigger than Celtic Park and, apart from Ibrox, it's Tynecastle that really appeals to me. I'm going to be playing there every other week so it's only going to benefit me and help me become a better player for Hearts. I want to give a good account of myself and show the fans that the manager has made the right decision bringing me in. A lot of supporters probably won't realise who I am and what I'm about, coming from a lower division team. I aim to do as well as I can as quickly as I can."

Stevenson has already overcome the disappointment of losing two quick-fire goals in the east end of Glasgow. "I feel fine after Wednesday," he continued. "I thought we held our own and the manager said to us at half-time to frustrate Celtic for the first 15 minutes of the second half.

"I'd like to have seen where that would have got us but we were 2-0 down pretty quickly and at that stage it's always difficult to come back.

"It was a long week and a half since I signed so I just wanted to make my debut. I wanted to try and get a game as quickly as I could. I'm looking forward to my home debut tomorrow, if I'm selected."

The obvious danger for Hearts tomorrow lies in the galvanising effect a managerial switch often has in football. May's departure was not unexpected given Falkirk's position at the bottom of the SPL and their miserable record of just three domestic victories all season. Pressley's appointment, which includes the veteran Alex Smith as assistant coach, is intended to spur the club out of their slumber.

Pressley requires no introduction to anyone at Tynecastle having served the club with distinction for eight years as a player. Supporters' attitudes towards him are decidedly mixed since the well-publicised fallout with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov which prompted his departure from Hearts. His experience and nous are sure to be severely tested over the coming weeks and months.

"With a manager leaving it always re-opens doors for players. It's a clean slate for everyone and all the Falkirk boys will be looking to perform tomorrow," observed Stevenson. "Steven Pressley will want to do well coming back to Hearts. It will be a big day for him and a big day for Falkirk. They are scrapping for their lives at the bottom of the league, but on the other hand we want to pick up as many points as we can too. Wednesday was a disappointment so we're looking to get three points on Saturday.

"I've been there myself when you lose your manager, it's not the best of situations. Falkirk will get together and work hard between now and kick-off, they know it's a clean slate so some boys who have not been playing have the chance to show the new manager they are capable of playing for him. Everybody will be playing for their starting positions. I think what Pressley did for Hearts was magnificent. He was the captain, a long servant and the fans loved him. He's a good man, a good professional and I'm sure he'll be a good manager for Falkirk as well. The whole thing adds a bit of spice to it.

"Tomorrow will be our manager's first home game since his return."

Regardless of which type of fare ensues, there is nowhere Ryan Stevenson would rather be tomorrow than Tynecastle Stadium.