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Jorge Grant insists Hearts know what Rangers are made of as Hampden glory hunt arrives with personal wish

The Jambos were so close to dumping the Ibrox side in Govan last week and Grant is desperate to go one better back in Glasgow on Sunday.

Hearts' Jorge Grant
Hearts' Jorge Grant(Image: SNS Group)

Jorge Grant is confident Hearts have the measure of Rangers as the Jambos prepare for a Hampden rematch just a week after their Ibrox agony.


Steven Naismith’s side left Govan devastated last Sunday after seeing two injury time Gers goals turn a memorable victory into a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat. Hearts responded with a dominant 1-0 victory over Livingston on Wednesday night where Grant came off the bench to provide the cross for Kenneth Vargas’ late winner.


And as they prepare for a second helping of Sunday service against Philippe Clement’s side in the Viaplay Cup semi final, the Englishman hopes his crucial assist is enough to force him back into Naismith’s starting XI. Grant started last weekend’s Ibrox showdown and was replaced on the hour mark with the Jambos a goal to the good. Ahead of Sunday’s return to Glasgow he said: “Obviously it’s a great stadium and something I really want to do to start the game but that’s down to the gaffer. But I’d love to start.


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“It’s a one-off game - a semi-final. It’s split with the fans as well so it’s going to be a big game for us and we all know what it means to the club. We will all be giving it 100 per cent.

"We played them last weekend, we know sort of what they're about. We had a good first half, up until about 60 minutes and then they started to get on top of us so we know what they’re about.

“Obviously it was important to get the win off the back of losing the way we did on Sunday, so obviously that gives us confidence going into the weekend.”


Hearts are hunting their first League Cup success in 60 years while Grant, a League One winner with Luton Town five years ago, has his eye on a first piece of major silverware. The 28-year-old’s only goal this season came in the last round as he hit the opener in the 2-1 win at Kilmarnock.

And he’d love to get back on the scoresheet at the national stadium. He said: “That would be nice. If I can pop up with a goal which helps us win the game then that’s something I’d love to do.”

Grant’s game is more about creating goals than applying the finishing touch though and his cross was on the money for summer signing Vargas to open his account against Livi. Naismith paid tribute to the Costa Rican for his work rate since arriving in Scotland and tipped him to become a top player.


And Grant said: “He’s a great lad. After coming across, obviously being far from his family and stuff like that, it can be hard. He’s a really nice lad and we’re all delighted he's got his first one.

Hearts squad celebrate opening goal

“His English is actually alright. He loves talking about Fifa which gets the boys going so he fits in really well with us.

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“I knew if I could get the ball out of my feet and get it across the box hopefully someone’s there. It’s a good ball but he’s got to be there to score it. We sort of knew with our shape that we’d be able to push Livingston back, it was about being patient.

“We created enough chances to be scoring earlier than that. Obviously it’s tough when a team does sit in like that. You have to work the ball side to side and sometimes that’s not enjoyable to watch. But it’s about making those spaces behind for the goal, and I felt we did that well.

“The manager spoke to me about being quite high. Being in the space between the midfield and the defence and making runs in behind like I did for the cross so it was important that our two higher midfielders were pushing their midfielders back which gave us time to switch the play and get behind them when we could.”

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