Jorge Grant has heard all about the magic of European football from Nottingham Forest legend Des Walker. And as he puts roots down in Edinburgh with Hearts the midfielder can’t wait to branch out and make his first venture into continental competition count.
Grant grew up with Forest, Sampdoria and England legend Walker’s two sons, Tyler and Lewis, and came through the ranks at the City Ground with the former who is now at Coventry. Not only did he have Walker senior - who was a youth at Forest when Brian Clough’s side mixed it with the cream of Europe in the early 1980s - filling his head with tales from the club’s glory days but his coach Steve Chettle was another member of that Cloughy era.
The chance to taste the European stage was a big factor in the 27-year-old choosing Hearts over League One clubs in England when he left Peterborough two months ago. And now, as he prepares for the Jambos’ Europa League play-off crunch against Zurich on Thursday, he’s determined to make memories of his own.
He said: "When I was making the decision, I could have gone back to League One and done the same thing that I've done for the whole of my career.
“This opportunity was something that is completely different. It was a step out of my comfort zone, playing in Europe and playing in the SPFL.
“Forest has got so much history and you can tell that from the fans' passion. When I was there they were nowhere near that. But I know a few people who used to play in Europe for Forest.
“I know both Des Walker’s sons and Steve Chettle and his son, so I know about those European nights at Forest. To have some of those up here would be great.
"There's a few crazy tales in there. Des spoke about European memories and so did Steve, he was one of my coaches at Forest and was fantastic with me, talking about the stages he has played on and the experiences he has had - Europe being one of them.
“Des always tried to stay out of it. With his sons as well, he never wanted to be a burden on them.
“Because he's such a big name, he wanted them to make a name for themselves. He always tried to stay away from it, but he's given me the odd bit of advice here and there.
“Hopefully he can get up for a game. Both his sons want to come up and he loves golf as well, so he would be all over a trip to Edinburgh.”
Grant made 20 top team appearances for Forest in a five-year spell from 2014 before moving on to Lincoln City and Peterborough.
He likens the electricity produced by the Tynecastle crowd to what he experienced at the City Ground. That, he insists, could be crucial come the second leg of the tie against the Swiss champions next week.
He said: “It's very similar to Forest, when I was there as a young player. When the crowd is with you, it's a top atmosphere.
“Both games I've had in the league have been really good and enjoyable. You can tell it's a massive advantage having the crowd in a stadium like this. If we can go to Zurich and get a good result ... anything can happen at Tynecastle.”
Grant notched his first Jambos goal in his third appearance in Sunday’s 4-1 thumping of Dundee United.
Sitting in an advanced midfield role he impressed as Robbie Neilson ’s side warmed up for Zurich with a morale-boosting win.
Now he’s targeting more - especially with his extended family heading north for a visit ahead of the St Johnstone clash in two weeks’ time.
He said: "It's nice to get off the mark. I was hoping to get it as early as possible. Hopefully I can get some more now. I've found it easy to settle. All the lads have been great.
"My missus and son have been up and hopefully my mum and dad are coming up not next week, but the following week with nan and grandad, so it will be nice for them to see me play.”
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