McGlynn puts Berra success down to Hearts

Published on Monday 30 March 2009 09:57

FORMER Hearts coach John McGlynn believes Christophe Berra's apprenticeship at Tynecastle is directly responsible for his promotion to the Scotland squad over the last 12 months.

McGlynn, now managing Raith Rovers, helped introduce Berra to regular first-team football in 2006 and has since watched him grow in stature. Saturday evening's World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam was the defender's first start at international level.

Following Andy Webster's unceremonious departure from Hearts three years ago, McGlynn and then head coach Valdas Ivanauskas partnered Berra with Steven Pressley in central defence and watched the young protg thrive. He later captained the Edinburgh club before earning a 2.3million transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January, and McGlynn cites the upbringing at Tynecastle as central to his development.

"He had a really good apprenticeship because he was broken in alongside Steven Pressley," said McGlynn.

"He had that experience and influence next to him.

"I think it's amazing what he's come through at Hearts, becoming the captain and emerging from all the upheaval there has been at Hearts. He has had to go in at the deep end.

"(And) to go down (to Wolves) and be a regular almost instantly says a hell of a lot for him. George Burley has been talking to Mick McCarthy, who is very, very happy with him."