Michael Steinwender made his first Hearts start at the weekend as the Jambos lost to Rangers in the Premiership.
The Austrian centre-back signed for Hearts in January from Swedish outfit IFK Varnamo for a six-figure transfer fee as he reinforces Neil Critchley’s defensive options.
Steinwender made his debut for Hearts as a substitute in the 6-0 mauling of Dundee at Dens Park before playing a part in the Gorgie side’s Scottish Cup penalty shootout victory over St Mirren.
Critchley admitted Steinwender needs time to settle in at Hearts after over two months without playing given IFK Varnamo’s regular season ended in November.
But it appears the 24-year-old has adapted quickly – particularly given he got on the scoresheet against Rangers on Sunday.
Michael Steinwender analyses his first Hearts goal
Hearts lost 3-1 on the day with Rangers leading by a single goal at half-time. Steinwender was the man that notched a deserved equaliser – but it was futile in the end.
Steinwender was pleased to score his first Hearts goal but is more concerned about his team’s final result which is what mattered most.
Reflecting on his headed goal, Steinwender admits he was surprised by one thing. He said: “I was feeling like they (Rangers players) left me quite free all the time, and I was like: ‘If the ball comes in this space, I think I’m gonna head it in.’ Then it happens like this, so I was quite happy, yeah.
“To be honest, I was a little bit surprised (by the space), but I think they were focusing more on Jamie (McCart) because he also can head the ball in, as he did here at home (in win over Kilmarnock), so maybe they were focusing more on him.
Instead, it was McCart who effectively won Rangers the game as his two own goals proved to be the difference in Gorgie.
From his own experience, Steinwender understands how McCart will be feeling. But the Austrian is confident the ‘brilliant defender’ can rise above his unfortunate errors.
Steinwender said: “That’s part of being a defender, but he’s a brilliant guy, he’s a brilliant defender, he couldn’t do much about it.
“It happens to every defender, I think, in their career. It also happened to me in Austria. He’s a brilliant defender and he’s a brilliant guy and he will play as he played on.”
Neil Critchley’s long-term Hearts centre-back partnership?
Hearts recruited five new players in the January transfer window, two of which were central defenders in McCart and Steinwender.
It was a necessity for the Jambos to reinforce in this area due to the long-term injuries of Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent.
Moreover, Kye Rowles was sold to DC United for £600k which left another gap. Thankfully, the loan recall of Lewis Neilson from St Johnstone helped here.
Hearts now have six central defenders in the first-team squad and it is likely Critchley will go with McCart and Steinwender for the rest of the campaign.
That’s because Kent and Kingsley are set to return at the end of the season, with Craig Halkett also nursing an injury – albeit a smaller one – at the moment.