Hearts’ Jordan Roberts says he’ll give his all for the newly-promoted cinch Premiership club – but he wants to play regular football – whether that’s in Edinburgh or elsewhere.
The winger joined Hearts last season but left on loan in January to join Motherwell, having played six Championship matches for the Tynecastle side. Roberts hit form during his stint at Fir Park, scoring three goals with two assists in eight games before an injury ended his season.
Roberts shone at Fir Park. (Photo by Andrew Vaughan – CameraSport via Getty Images)
He’s now back with Robbie Neilson’s Hearts team and has featured in their Premier Sports Cup group stage campaign. Roberts came off the bench during Saturday’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Sunderland and says he wants to feature regularly.
He said: “From a personal point of view, I obviously want to be playing football and hopefully I can get some games here. If not, you have to be realistic about things and see where your future lies. At the minute I’m a Hearts player and I’ll give my all while I’m here and go from there.
“I just come in every day, work hard and try to do my best. When I’m called upon to play, whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, I need to impact the team as much as possible. For me it’s about playing, wherever that may be. I need to be happy from a personal point of view but whilst I’m here, I’ll give my all for the club.
Roberts needs to play. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“I’m 27 now and I want to look back on seasons with games under my belt. As a player, that’s what you want and I’m always realistic about things. If that’s not here to play then there might be an opportunity elsewhere and I’ll maybe look at that. But that’s ahead of me and I want to give my all here until told otherwise.”
Roberts arrived at Hearts from Ipswich Town as football adjusted to the global health pandemic, Hearts’ Championship-winning season starting in October due to Covid-19. But he refuses to use that as an excuse for not hitting the ground running.
The 27-year-old explained: “It was difficult for everyone really. I don’t want to just nail it down to myself because everyone is in the same position. I’m sure there were other players that were finding it tough but I just got my head down, tried to adapt and keep myself busy.
Roberts was down south prior to the Hearts move. (Photo by Andrew Vaughan – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“We haven’t had many pre-season games and we have gone straight into the Premier Sports Cup. The lads are looking fit. We give our all every week. We don’t fear anyone in the league and we don’t look too much at the opposition.”
Motherwell provided Roberts with a chance to play the regular games he desires last season. He says time at Fir Park allowed his confidence to return: “I wasn’t playing here so I needed to get out and play. I got my confidence back which was the main thing and most of the lads will tell you that.
“Playing is all about confidence and you want to feel like you’re important, you’re the main man and you thrive off that. But I’m back here now and I’m a Hearts player until told otherwise. Just from the mental side of things. If you’re not playing, you’re not happy and you don’t want that to be the case.
“Wherever you go you need to try and adapt to a new manager’s system, how they want to play. It’s down to you to pull that off.”
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