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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Hearts star Craig Halkett on Robert Snodgrass and Zander Clark arrivals as 'positive' vibe remains

Craig Halkett has hailed the arrivals of Robert Snodgrass and Zander Clark and says everything around Hearts remains 'so positive'.

Robbie Neilson's men have been struggling for form of late as they begin juggling domestic matters with Europa Conference League football. They played their opening game of the group stage on Thursday night as they suffered a heavy defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir to make it six defeats in the last seven outings.

Despite the recent run of results, the Jambos remain fourth in the table and have five European games still to play in the section with Halkett ready to be involved, starting with Thursday's clash in Latvia against RFS. But closer to home he has hailed Snodgrass as a 'big personality' which will be great for the dressing room while he's hailed Clark as a 'top goalkeeper'

READ MORE: Hearts star Craig Halkett on Europa Conference League lesson as he targets points in Riga

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Speaking about the new additions, he told the Sunday Mail: “We’ve brought a couple of new faces into the squad in the last few weeks and that has only added to the positive atmosphere.

“Snoddy is a big personality and is going to be great for the dressing room. Zander is also a top keeper and he’s also a welcome addition to the squad so everything around the place is still so positive.

“We are still fourth in the league and there’s still so much to look forward to in the months ahead. I didn’t know Snoddy before he walked into the dressing room but the lads were telling a few funny stories.

“He’s played at the top level for a long time and shown he can perform amongst the best. So he’ll bring a quality to our play in the final third as well as a big personality into the team.

“His arrival can only be a good thing for the younger boys too as they can learn from him. I’m looking forward to learning too, feeding off his experiences. So both on and off the park he’ll bring a lot to the club.”

On pulling up against FC Zurich and missing the Europa Conference League opener, he added: "I was gutted as my whole career has been building towards these types of games and towards heading in the right direction. To get to that point, and for it only to last six minutes, was so hard to take.

"It was hard to find any positives but at least, regardless of what happened, as a club we had already guaranteed group-stage football in Europe for this season.

“That was always the bigger picture and great to know even as I sat watching the remainder of that game and the home tie at Tynecastle. There was the comfort of knowing there would still be at least six more games in Europe.

“I was just trying to remain positive and there are now five games ahead of us. I’m just desperate to be a part of them.”

READ MORE:

- Three things we learned as Hearts stutter to defeat at Livingston as new signing makes debut

- Hearts confirm Zander Clark signing as Joe Savage highlights free agency importance to Jambos

- Liam Boyce given Hearts hope as boss refuses to say striker's season is over after knee blow

- Hearts starlet Lewis Neilson talks comparisons to Rangers John Souttar and his EPL dream

- Three things we learned as Hearts sent for early Premier Sports Cup bath in Gorgie by Kilmarnock

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