Denholm: Exciting times ahead – Hearts

Aidan Denholm is enjoying what has been a breakthrough season at Tynecastle Park.

Since signing a new contract in the summer, the midfielder hasn’t looked back and following an impressive substitute appearance in Trondheim against Rosenborg, he’s shown what he can offer the team. 

The 20-year-old, who was a regular in the Hearts B side last season under Steven Naismith, believes these are exciting times at the club, as he continues to push for regular game time.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Jambos’ cinch Premiership encounter with Dundee, Denholm said:

“It is a very exciting time to be involved at Hearts. There are so many great players here, I can’t name them all, but for me, it’s about trying to get myself in the team and become a regular.

“I want to enjoy it, but also make sure I stay in the team. There’s a real good feel-factor around the place just now and I’m just enjoying every minute of it.

“I was lucky enough to be given a second chance in the summer, but then it was more about me going over to Marbella in pre-season and taking it and I think I did fairly well.

"The main thing is to try and learn little things I can implement into my own game. I feel I am learning with every game I play. There are going to be mistakes, I am a young player but if I can learn from them and prove what I can bring to the team then great, but I’m not just happy with that, I want to kick on more.

“I obviously played with Naisy when he was managing the B Team and he has been different class with me. Not just on the pitch, but off it as well.

“If I make a mistake, he’s the first one to put an arm round the shoulder, but he knows me so well. He knows if something is wrong. I can’t speak highly enough of Naisy, he has given me this opportunity and I just want to repay him.”

The men in maroon are looking to follow up Saturday’s Scottish Cup fourth-round victory over The Spartans but after the Dee came out on top earlier in the season, the midfielder is fully aware that the three points won’t come easy.

“We played them earlier in the season and it didn’t go as planned. We know it will be a tough game, but we need to focus on ourselves. We have high quality in our group and there is lots of competition for places.

“If we can get the win, that gives us two wins in a row to then take into the Aberdeen game.”

You can watch Aidan’s press conference in full on Hearts TV.