Josh Ginnelly has admitted he wants to stay at Hearts as he opened up on trying to break into Robbie Neilson's starting side.
The 25-year-old has explained he doesn't fit in the current system the Tynecastle side have adopted and while reports previously have suggested they would be willing to listen to offers for the attacker, he himself has come out and said he wants to stay and fight for his place.
He was handed a start in the 2-0 defeat against champions Celtic at the weekend as boss Neilson shuffled the pack ahead of their huge Europa League return with FC Zurich in the capital in front of a packed out sell-out crowd in Gorgie. The Jambos are well in the tie with the Swiss side 2-1 up from last week's first meeting with a spot in the group stage and the financial benefits that come with that the big prize on offer.
Europa Conference League football is guaranteed but it is the second tier competition that Hearts are targeting and Ginnelly wants to be part of the European adventure and he says the boys in maroon believes they can get the job done under the lights on Thursday night.
Speaking to Edinburgh Evening News, he said: “I missed part of pre-season [through injury], I’ve had a few minutes as a substitute in the first leg over in Switzerland. I’ve just got to keep working hard to get back in the team.
“I want to stay here. It’s going to be tough for me to get into the team because I don’t fit into a slot.
"I think I’ve got to take that upon myself, get used to the positions the manager wants. As it stands I’m here so I will be giving 100 per cent.”
Asked outright if he wants to remain in the capital, he added: “Yeah, I do. I don’t know who would want to leave Hearts like that to be honest.
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"We had a great season last year, we are in Europe now and hopefully we get past the play-off this week and see where it takes us.”
On the return clash with FC Zurich, he added: “Obviously we were unhappy to concede the goals in the first leg but I think anyone would have taken that result over there. Now we take them back to our home ground and that will be in our favour. We believe we can get the job done.
“The boys who played the majority of the game can be proud of themselves. It’s not easy to go away and deal with different conditions. I thought we made a few good chances, probably our quality could have been better.
“It’s sad for the fans that we got a defeat but I think even they will take that. They know how much of an impact Tynecastle can have on teams. I would say we are all positive and we can’t wait to get Zurich at our ground.”
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