Berra sure of tough return to Hearts with Wolves

CHRISTOPHE BERRA returns to Tynecastle tonight sensing Hearts are preparing to raise their game against his Wolverhampton Wanderers side. Moreover, he expects relentless abuse from his former team-mates if the English Premier League club are defeated.

The Scotland centre-back will play in Edinburgh for the first time since his 2.3?million transfer south in January 2009. A former Hearts captain, he is hoping for a positive reception from the Gorgie natives and admits playing against his formative club will be a strange experience.

"It will be a tough game, not just because of them but because as a Premier League team going there they will probably raise their game. It's natural," said Berra. "If you're a Scottish team playing an English Premier League team, you want to impress and do well. So they will be on the ball and we'll have to make sure we are as well.

"I'm sure if I do anything bad, I'll get caned for it from their boys. But that's part and parcel of football. It will be quite a strange experience. I used to play there for five, six, seven years so going into the away team dressing room and walking out of that tunnel and not playing for Hearts will be strange. But hopefully I'll play and it will be an occasion to enjoy because I've got my family going as well, so it would be nice if we can get a victory.

"My whole family live in Edinburgh, but, if you want to play at the highest level in football, you have to move.

"That was why I came to England and it's paid off. I still speak to a few of the players, especially the younger ones such as Lee Wallace, who's done well."

Berra explained that Hearts supporters can expect to see an even more imposing version of the player who decamped to Wolverhampton 19 months ago. "I think I've 'manned up' since I left. I'm bigger, stronger and faster than I was before.

"I was captain (at Hearts] and I always gave my all and I think the fans recognised that, so hopefully I get a good reception. I worked hard and I had many good years there. I was captain there at a turbulent time at the club and there were lots of low points. But when I look back now, those things have made me a stronger person and a better player. You learn from those experiences and it toughens you up.

"I'd been at Hearts for five to seven years and sometimes you need a new challenge.

"Although I didn't have to go to Wolves, I wanted to. Hearts asked me if I wanted to go and I could have easily said no. I didn't push for a move. As captain, I wasn't going to go to the press and say it, it just happened naturally as the way these things work. When the opportunity came along, I thought it was the right time to do it and when I look back now, I think it was.

"Sometimes you need a fresh challenge."

• TONIGHT's match between Hearts and Wolves kicks off at 7.00pm at Tynecastle.