Scott Robinson set to miss his Hearts title dream

Scott Robinson admits theres no place for him at Hearts. Picture: SNS

Robinson, 22, was told by Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson he could leave Tynecastle in August, just five days before the summer transfer window closed.

Reluctant to move on at such short notice, he opted to stay in Edinburgh to fight for a place and bid to change his manager’s mind.

However, Robinson has made just three appearances since then, and six overall this term, as he has been kept out of the team by signings such as Spaniard Miguel Pallardo.

Midfielder Robinson understands the position, given that Hearts have been performing so well, moving nine points clear of Rangers at the top of the league with a game in hand.

He last started for the Gorgie side three months ago in a 5-1 victory over Cowdenbeath and admits that the time has come to take on a new challenge.

Kilmarnock were keen on recruiting him in the summer and they could be tempted to make a move when the winter window opens on 1 January.

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Robinson said: “I’ve been at Hearts since I was 14 so it wasn’t great to be told I am going to have to leave – but if that’s what is best for my career, it’s something I need to look at.

“I was told I could go just before the window shut in August, which was terrible timing for me.

“There were a couple of offers there but I didn’t want to rush into anything. I didn’t want to go into something I wasn’t 100 per cent focused on.

“I just wanted to stay, work hard and hopefully change people’s minds but that hasn’t happened.

“Unfortunately, players have been signed in my position and I’ve fallen down the pecking order, so it looks like I’ll need to move on.

“It’s the manager who picks the team and, if he doesn’t want to play me, there’s nothing I can do. I just want to get back to enjoying my football like I used to at Hearts and, hopefully, I can do that somewhere else.

“It’s really hard to take that I’m going to have to leave Hearts when they are doing so well, because I still feel I can do a job for them. But I accept I’m not playing because others are doing well and I’ve no complaints. I just want to hit the ground running somewhere else now.”

Robinson feels he has plenty to offer and is determined to show what a valuable player he can be.

Although he has had injury problems in the past, he has been fully fit for almost two years and is optimistic that he can prove to be a good addition somewhere.

Robinson added: “I’m still going into Hearts every day and I’m working as hard as ever. I’ve not let myself go, or let my head go down, as I’m not that kind of person. I want to do the best I possibly can in football and wherever that may be, I’m hoping I can go to a club which is a good option for me.

“Last season was the first one where I felt I had a full term of playing regularly while free of injuries and I felt I had a pretty good campaign. It was my best season at Hearts but, unfortunately, I got suspended for the first two games this year and I couldn’t get into the team with it being on such a good run.

“I’m fit and ready to go. I had a few weeks out at the start of last year after injuring my knee in the derby with Hibs but I’ve been fine ever since.”

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