ALTHOUGH widely regarded as one of Hearts' most dedicated and accomplished players, Lee Wallace might feel thankful that tomorrow's visit of Kilmarnock marks the last home game of the season.
The full-back's 2007/08 campaign has mimicked that of his club, in that its consistent theme has been one of frustration. Personal injuries combined with infrequent starts and a bottom-six finish make the last year one to forget, and not surprisingly
Wallace is already looking ahead – not to bronzing his torso on a sun-kissed beach, but to next season when he intends to establish himself as Hearts' undisputed first-choice left-back.
Some would argue he is already worthy of that status but Vladimir Romanov's desire to sell the Portuguese Jose Goncalves has left Wallace an undeserving victim of late.
Thirteen starts in total isn't enough to satisfy the 20-year-old who, despite his relative youth, is participating in his fourth campaign at first-team level. He left the Falkirk Stadium on Monday evening having been one of Hearts' better performers as a left midfield substitute, however that guarantees nothing tomorrow.
The need to showcase Goncalves in the hope of attracting a transfer offer in the £2million bracket means Wallace must continue playing second fiddle for the moment. He takes such fate in his stride, diplomatically focusing on the quest for personal improvement first and foremost.
"That's obviously the manager's option regarding the selection of the defence," he said. "It's hard when you're watching, whether it's from the bench, the stand or on TV. Everyone can see what's going wrong and everyone makes defensive mistakes. We are all big enough and man enough to get on with things but it is hard watching it. The way we lost the goals on Monday against Falkirk made it hard to watch.
"I've played regularly in little spells, four and five games at a time, but I haven't had the best of seasons. I've been working hard on all the stuff you need to practise, even away from training. I've had a few decent performances but I feel I haven't performed to my best. I'm looking at next season to try and improve.
"When I've been left out I've just taken it as the manager's decision, that's all I have to understand. I'm disappointed not to be playing but happy that I'm still involved with the squad. You are always learning at this club, even sitting on the bench. I just need to fight to get my place back.
"It's all about doing well in training and showing what I can do. The manager knows what I'm capable of but if I do get my chance I'll need to stay consistent. If I do that it'll only help my case for selection. A lot of it is about concentration and taking my chance when I do play."
Christophe Berra and Saulius Mikoliunas, whom Wallace replaced against Falkirk, will be absent tomorrow. The club captain is just one caution away from a two-match ban effective from the start of next season, whilst Mikoliunas is home in Lithuania awaiting the birth of his first child. Gary Glen is rated in the "touch-and-go" category with a calf strain, but Wallace won't count on being asked to deputise for any of the above.
Of his fleeting appearances, it's difficult to recall a sub-standard display from the versatile Scotland under-21 cap. Whether in midfield or defence, he rarely lets Hearts down. Included in his generation of academy graduates are similarly reliable youngsters who have evolved into first-team mainstays in recent seasons.
He continued: "There have been a lot of good performances and some players have played a large number of games, like Christophe. There's been Eggert Jonsson and Andy Driver, who've also played a fair bit, and Robbie Neilson is always a regular. A lot of folk have done themselves justice and played really well but others haven't quite managed it. Talking of myself, I haven't really pulled things together and performed."
It's difficult to decipher whether the personal condemnation is down to modesty during a one-to-one interview or evidence of a young player with exceedingly high standards. Both factors are likely to apply where Wallace is concerned.
He has taken on the win-at-all-costs mentality of Stephen Frail, his former coach at under-19 level, and tried to implement it at first-team level. However, as Monday evening's 2-1 defeat confirmed, there remains a select few of his colleagues who have yet to properly grasp that mindset.
"What Shaggy basically said after the game was why does it take for us to go 2-0 down before we roll the sleeves up and show a bit of desire and commitment. I think everyone in the dressing room would have agreed with that," said Wallace.
"We had won our two previous games and were on our way to getting a little bit of pride back after a poor season but things weren't right at Falkirk. They played well but, when we started to step it up in the second half, it was too late. Winning has been the emphasis since we were consigned to the bottom six.
"We wanted to win our remaining games and go out on a high. Depending on the teams above, you can end up finishing with more points than some of those in the top six. Whether that happens or not, we intend to beat Kilmarnock tomorrow and then Gretna on Tuesday."
In truth, that would not appease many who frequent Tynecastle. Supporters remain disillusioned by this season's mediocrity but have commendably shown faith through one of the most exasperating campaigns of recent years. Having turned up in their thousands all year, the club announced earlier this week that season tickets for next season are selling at a rate comparable with the same stage of last year's renewal phase.
"Apart from wanting the victory tomorrow, the main thing is to give something back to the fans," stressed Wallace. "The whole dressing room wants to show the fans our appreciation for this season because they've been great. It's a case of getting everyone performing to give something back to them.
"I think after the game, no matter the result, we'll all be out applauding the supporters. It's the last home game, they've been brilliant and we haven't really given them everything this season. We need to repay them next year."
The full article contains 1091 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
