The ex Gorgie star explains in his latest Record Sport column the importance of homegrown stars.
Jim Jefferies stood me outside Tynecastle when I signed for Hearts and asked me one simple question. It was: Do you know just how important this club is?
At any big club, you need boys who understand what is needed and demanded and can transfer that onto lads from different cultures and countries. One, understand the league and, two, understand the values of the club and what it means to people. You need that Scottish core. I have banged the drum about that forever, basically.
It’s not just Hearts. I liked it when the Old Firm signed boys from Scotland. Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Steven Whittaker, Kirk Broadfoot, Kris Boyd. These boys knew the responsibility of representing Celtic or Rangers and it was good for their clubs. Naisy has been part of that. He left Kilmarnock to join Rangers and he understands it.
Having the likes of Lawrence stay in January was massive for Naisy and boys like Stephen Kingsley lead the way. Frankie Kent has come up from England, he totally gets Hearts and I’m sure that’s down to what he’s being fed by lads such as Craig Gordon and Craig Halkett. The Scottish Cup semi-final is looming and, as a player, I would always think I need to be performing to make sure I’m in for that game. Facing Rangers in the last four of the Scottish might be over a fortnight away, but the build-up starts here as far as I’m concerned.
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