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Barrie McKay looking forward to playing in front of 'hostile' Hearts fans

Barrie McKay looking forward to playing in front of 'hostile' Hearts fans
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The winger signed for the Jambos this week.

Barrie McKay is relishing having Hearts fans' backing after experiencing the full force of the "hostile" Tynecastle fanbase in his previous visits as an opposing player.

The 26-year-old winger has played at the Gorgie ground four times and has lost on each occasion, twice with Raith Rovers in 2014/15 and twice with Rangers in 2016/17.

After signing for Hearts this week, he is looking forward to having the backing of the raucous Jambos faithful, starting with Sunday's Edinburgh derby against Hibernian when he could make his debut.

He said: "My memories of playing at Tynecastle are that it's hostile. I think if you asked most players the one stadium they loved playing at but didn't like playing at at the same time, they'd say Tynecastle.

"The fans are right on top of you and if you're on the opposition team they're right against you and it can be tough, especially if Hearts get a goal. When the Hearts fans get up behind their team, it's hard for the opposition to play against.

"As a visiting player, you try and build some momentum but the fans here don't really let you do that because as soon as Hearts get the ball back, the fans are right up again and it can kill your momentum.

"You can see that they really push the team on. I'll thrive on that because I'm a player that wants to get fans off their seat. I want to excite them and hopefully I can do that."

McKay has scored for Rangers in a Glasgow derby before and is excited by the possibility of making his Hearts debut against their city rivals.

He said: "I've played in derbies before and when you watch the Edinburgh derby you can see it's feisty.

"I'm from Scotland so I understand all the derbies up here and it's one I'm looking forward to. I'm fit and ready to go so it's up to the manager whether he picks me or not. It's one of the best games I could come into."

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Hearts manager Robbie Neilson pictured on October 31, 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic2017215574853
2RangersRangers20124437162140
3Dundee UnitedDundee Utd219753022834
4Aberdeen2110473230234
5Motherwell219392734-730
6St Mirren2283112737-1027
7Hibernian226883135-426
8Dundee2174103337-425
9Ross County226792238-1625
10Kilmarnock2266102537-1224
11Hearts2265112531-623
12St Johnstone2243152444-2015


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