Northern Ireland striker Connor Washington has lifted the lid on working with new gaffer Daniel Stendel , insisting the former Barnsley boss knows exactly what he wants.
The former QPR hitman has only taken part in four training sessions since his return from a hamstring injury but he likes what he sees of the German's methods.
Stendel has taken to stopping training to drill into his Hearts players on exactly where he needs them to be as part of his high-energy, pressing style.
And the 27-year-old can already see that the style of play is going to be a good fit for his talents and will help the Jambos climb the Premiership table.
Washington told the Evening News: “I think it will definitely suit me. I really like his ideas, he’s a very forward-thinking manager. He has some great thoughts on how we can improve as a club and how to help players in general. It’s great to hear those things and hopefully see them put into place. The table doesn’t lie, we are bottom of the league for a reason.
“We need to work on Sunday’s performance and take it forward but I am really looking forward to working under the new manager. He has given me a couple of pointers in the few days’ training I’ve had. It’s nice to be coached again.
"From his forward players, he wants high intensity and high pressing. Then he wants forward runs and, obviously, goals. At the moment, he is just bedding in his ideas. We are working on some patterns of play and the lads are starting to take that on board.
“His enthusiasm for the job is great. He wants to coach everybody. He is constantly stopping the training to point things out, saying: ‘I want this, I want that, I want this.’ He is very specific in terms of what he wants.
"There will be lads who can’t do what he wants, which is where January comes around because the manager is probably going to shake things up. As players, we have to try and prove we are good enough and can do exactly what he wants to stay in the team and stay at this club.”
Stendel replaced the sacked Craig Levein in November and has lost four of his first five games but managed to get a creditable draw against Aberdeen in the last game before the winter break.
