New Dundee United signing Robbie Neilson insists Hearts’ off-field troubles will not be a factor when they play at Tannadice on Saturday.
Neilson has signed for the Tangerines until the end of the season after leaving English Championship outfit Leicester. He spent 13 years at Tynecastle and is now set to make a dramatic debut against his former side, who continue to be plagued by financial woes.
The Hearts players have not received their November wages because the Edinburgh club were forced to pay an outstanding tax bill making this the second straight month salaries have been delayed.
But having experienced similar issues when he was at Tynecastle, Neilson believes the Jambos players will simply be determined to triumph in adversity.
He said: ”It’s a great one to start with against Hearts. There aren’t many boys left there from when I played but I know a lot of the backroom staff.
”The off-field stuff won’t be affecting them on the park. We had the same situation when I was there and if anything, it unites a squad.
”The boys are all in it together and they will want to show that on the pitch. They have strong characters, guys like Andy Webster, and they won’t let it affect them.
”Maybe Monday to Friday they will think about it, but when a Saturday comes they will just want to get their boots on and be playing.”
Neilson admitted United manager Peter Houston played a major role in him opting to restart his SPL career at Tannadice.
The pair first got to know one another when Houston was coaching at Hearts and used to drive Neilson to training every morning from Glasgow.
Neilson said: ”The manager is a big factor in me coming here I have known him for a lot of years. Sometimes it takes a while to settle in but I already know the manager, backroom staff and a lot of the players so it won’t take long.
”The team are in the bottom six just now but having trained with the lads already, that’s not where we should be. United lost a few players in the summer but there are really good youngsters at the club.”
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”There is a lot of quality here and we will start climbing the table before too long.”
As well as his vast experience, Neilson also brings a lot of versatility and is capable of turning out in a whole host of positions.
He added: ”I have played at left-back, centre-half and midfield so I’ll fit in anywhere I’m asked to.
”It’s great to have it sorted out, I was training here two weeks ago and the manager made me an offer.
”It gives me a focus to the week because I have been training Monday to Friday but with no game at the weekend, so that has been hard.”
Neilson and long-term absentee Sean Dillon featured in a bounce game earlier this week at Falkirk and Houston is set to include both in his squad.
The manager said: ”It’s going to be a tough game against Hearts, as it always is. But we got a great result against them earlier in the season.
”Robbie and Sean played 45 minutes and came through it fine so I should have the pair of them in the squad on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Houston has confirmed that Sligo Rovers captain Richie Ryan trained with the Tangerines this week but United will not be making any moves to sign the midfielder.