All might be quiet at Hearts during the World Cup but I can bet one phone is chirping like a Kookaburra right now - the one belonging to Kye Rowles ’ agent.
The Jambos defender has been an absolute giant at the heart of the Australia defence as they’ve swept into the last 16 in Qatar. Harry Souttar has rightly been getting plaudits and linked with a big transfer down south but the exact same should go for his partner Rowles.
Listen, you can have one good game at a World Cup and suddenly be on the move for millions. Rowles has had three now and I’d be absolutely amazed if Hearts weren’t inundated with tempting bids next month even though he only signed in the summer. It’s not getting carried away to say the Jambos shouldn’t budge for anything less than £2m for the 24-year-old. But if Rowles can keep Lionel Messi in his back pocket against Argentina on Saturday then make that £10m!
There’s no bigger stage than the World Cup and it’s going to be really hard for Hearts to hold onto Rowles beyond this season if he keeps this up. He’s been one of Australia’s best performers against big hitters in front of a massive worldwide audience and hundreds if not thousands of scouts.
The games just keep getting bigger and with Argentina up next you can bet there will be even more eyes on him. It’s the nature of the beast and it’s what Hearts would have been hoping for when Rowles signed. Maybe not quite so quick right enough.
But the big defender is another example of Hearts’ recruitment being absolutely bang on for the last two or three years. I hope he stays for a while yet but let’s be honest .. most players come to Scotland with one eye on the Premier League down south at some point.
There has to be an understanding that if a big club comes in and the price is right then Hearts can’t really stand in his way. Aside from Rowles, Australia have been a breath of fresh air out in the Gulf.
Watching Jambos trio Rowles, Nat Atkinson and Cammy Devlin being involved - not to mention the other SPFL stars in the Socceroos’ squad - has been brilliant. I almost feel half-Aussie right now - you can call me Jason Cummings!
But you feel so proud for those boys. It’s no slight to say they’re more like a club team than an international side because they are so close-knit. And you only have to look at Belgium to see what can happen if there’s disharmony.
The Aussies are good footballers but above that they put team spirit and it’s carried them to two huge results. They must be having the time of their life because, although the mantra is ‘no celebrations yet’ in their camp, the Aussies are know how to have fun.
I played with the McGowan brothers at Hearts. Ryan was laid back but at the same time knew how to enjoy himself but his wee brother Dylan was an absolute maniac!
There was never a dull moment with either around and that Socceroos camp in Qatar must be jumping. While Rowles, Atkinson and Devlin live it up in Qatar the rest of the Hearts squad are in Spain preparing for the restart of the Premiership.
I was watching a clip of them training yesterday on social media and I had to laugh as it was pouring with rain! I bet that wasn’t in the plan when they shelled out to go to Malaga.
It’s a strange time to have a break. It’ll be like a mini pre-season all over but they’ll be expected to hit the ground running when they return to action against Kilmarnock in two weeks.
The big thing is keeping the group tight. But it also freshens things up rather than just turning up day after day at the Oriam. That would scramble the head.
A week in Spain will have them raring to go for Killie on December 17 when hopefully the squad will be close to full strength. Unless the Aussie three are in the World Cup Final that same weekend.
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