Robert Snodgrass is laying the groundwork for a future in coaching, but his number one priority is getting fit enough to star for Hearts.
The Scotland international returned north of the border to pen a one-year deal with the Jambos earlier this month after leaving Luton Town in the summer. The 35-year-old is coming to the end of his playing days, but Robbie Neilson and Joe Savage felt he has enough still to offer at Tynecastle to justify adding him to their squad for the current campaign.
Snodgrass has managed just one appearance off the bench so far, coming on during their 3-0 victory away at Motherwell before the recent international break. It was his first competitive action of any sort for four months as he plays catch-up with his new teammates. It’s probably too soon for him to start against Rangers tomorrow and his first Tynecastle appearance will likely come from the bench if it happens.
But he’s been putting in the work on the training pitch to reach Neilson’s minimum required standards and now just needs minutes to build his match sharpness in maroon. “To join when the lads are eight to ten games in, there is a level of catch-up. You use your experience to try and get into the best possible position. It’s tough,” he said.
“I can’t play in the European games and I can’t play in the B team either. Minutes is what you want. I’m trying to do two and three sessions daily. Once you get the minutes, that’s the most important thing.
“I’m working with Bob [McCunn], the head of performance, and Mike [Williams], the strength and conditioning coach. There is a lot of conditioning work, which is exactly what I need. It’s like a mini pre-season.
“I hadn’t done any proper training in more than three months. It was a bit of a lay-off so I’m just trying to get back up to speed. My last game was in May. I just need a bit of time to get some minutes.
“I’ve done everything you need to do before playing games. Now it’s about matches. I had a similar situation at Luton last season. When the games started, I felt myself going through the gears. I want to be creating and scoring goals and that mindset will never change.
A Glasgow boy, Snodgrass has based himself in the capital since returning from England. Part of the reason is that he’s currently doing his UEFA B licence, which takes place at Hearts’ Oriam training base. But Snodgrass insists he’s not here to wind down with a view to retirement. He’s desperate to contribute on the park.
“The manager has been straight up and clear. You need a base level through training and that’s what I’ve been doing,” he told the Edinburgh Evening News. “Then it’s up to me to get myself right for when the chances come.
“I’ve really enjoyed the city and living here. I’m doing my B Licence for coaching just now so the Scottish FA are helping with that. There will be longer nights ahead doing the coaching. It’s a long-term project for me to work through, playing and focusing on the later part of your career. First, I’m here as a player and I want to be the best version of myself.”
The summer can be a lonely time for out-of-contract stars, and Snodgrass explained how he teamed up with a former England international to keep himself ticking over whilst looking for his next move. He said: “I wasn’t at a club so I didn’t have access to pitches. I was trying to hire pitches,” he explains. “I did some side-training with Adam Morgan and Andy Carroll. You need team-training which is focused and pitch-based.
“Any lad who is out of contract will tell you that your window really opens as the proper transfer window closes. Clubs have so many other options when the window is open. There was some talk about Hearts along with six or seven other things.
“I just felt this was the right fit. I know a lot of the lads and I felt this was where I wanted to go. I got that feeling instantly. I’ve been down south for such a long time and wanted to get a change. Take yourself out of what you’ve known for years and challenge yourself.
“I’m back where it started for me in Scotland. I left a boy and came back a man. Now I have experience to help the next bunch of young lads.”
Hearts play eight games this month, starting with the home showdown against Giovanni van Bornckhorst’s men this weekend before next Thursday’s glamour Europa Conference League clash with Fiorentina. Snodgrass is only eligible for the domestic matches, however
“We are third in the league on merit and playing in Europe,” he said. “That’s what this club wants. If you want to achieve, you need to beat the best. Celtic and Rangers have dominated Scottish football for years so you want to beat these teams.
“I just wish I was able to play in the European games to get some minutes but the games are coming thick and fast.”
Does he still hold out hope of a first taste of European football thanks to a shock progression for Hearts out of the group stage? “I told the lads that’s the aim!”
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