Ross Stewart has learned the value of patience as Hearts deputy between the sticks this season, but the stopper admits he is now desperate to show what he can do after being passed the gloves for the Jambos next two games.
Recognised number one Craig Gordon’s call into the Scotland squad means Stewart is poised to add to his two appearances since arriving on loan at Tynecastle last year.
The 25-year-old has endured a frustrating few years since impressing then-St Mirren boss Jack Ross enough to pluck him from Albion Rovers in 2017 and has been restricted to just 22 first team appearances for four different clubs since then.
His last Hearts appearance came in a Betfred Cup defeat of Raith Rovers, but with Scottish Cup action making its long awaited return and Hearts off on a long trip to Brora Rangers this week, Stewart will have a rare opportunity as number one.
Gordon’s international exploits mean he will retain his place for the Championship meeting with Queen of the South on Saturday and Stewart admits he is looking forward to simply get involved after acting as understudy.
“Of course, nothing beats getting out there and playing. That’s what we all aspire to do every week," he told Hearts TV.
“I won’t prepare myself any differently for this game. I’ll just come in and do my normal things every day. I prepare myself every day like I’m going to play.
"I’ve been working really hard in training and going to games on Saturdays and midweek and you get to go on the pitch but my opportunity has come along and I’m going to just enjoy every minute of it."
The Highland League Cattachs put in an impressive display against city rivals Hibernian when the side met in the Betfred Cup group stages earlier this season, but would require the mother of all cup shocks to dump last season’s finalists out of this competition.
The Jambos have desires on a return to Hampden to go along with their procession to the Championship title and Stewart is determined to avoid a banana skin at Dudgeon Park in the first ever competitive meeting between the clubs.
"I think they’ll sit in, make it a tight game and we’re going to need to try and break them down," he said.
"It’s going to be a tough game. We need to be right mentally and make sure we’re at it from the first minute until the last.
“They’re going to make it tough. A big name like Hearts coming up to theirs, they’re not going to just let us win."
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