New St Johnstone signing Gregory Tade insists there will be no room for sentiment when he lines up against the side managed by a man to whom he owes an enormous debt of gratitude.
The French striker said he would not be where he is now if it wasn’t for the faith shown in him by former Raith Rovers boss John McGlynn, Hearts’ new manager.
Saints face the Jambos on the first day of the new league season and while Tade is looking forward to meeting his old mentor again, he will be going all out to make the game one to forget for Hearts.
He said: ”I am the proof that John McGlynn is a good manager.
”I used to play on the wing but he had the belief that I could be a success as a striker and he transformed me.
”I have now had two good moves, to Inverness and St Johnstone and without his help, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
He added: ”I have a lot to thank him for and I think he will be a big success at Hearts.
”He really deserves his chance to manage a big club like Hearts and I wish him all the best.
”However, when we meet them on the first day of the season, I will shake his hand and then crush his team.”No ‘sleepless nights’Saints fans will be hoping that Tade is as big a success as the man he has been brought in to replace, Fran Sandaza.
The Spanish striker was a key element in the Perth side’s success story last season contributing 18 goals.
But Tade insists he isn’t feeling any extra pressure, especially having dealt with a similar situation when he joined Inverness after they had lost Irish front man Adam Rooney.
He said: ”I have had all this before when I was at Inverness.
”Rooney had been there before me and I was supposed to fill his boots and do something crazy like score 20-odd goals.
”Sandaza also did a good job here but every striker brings his own style to a club and all I am thinking about is helping the team finish as high as possible in the league.”
He added: ”People will compare me with Sandaza after what he did last season but it’s my turn now.
”I always score goals. It may be one, or 20 or 30, who knows? I scored nine last season so why not top that this time round?
”But the most important thing is that the team does well. So I will definitely not be having sleepless nights thinking about replacing Sandaza.”
Tade was offered a new deal by Inverness boss Terry Butcher to stay in the Highlands but the lure of European football with Saints was too strong to resist.’Bit of a no-brainer’He said: ”Footballers come and go a lot these days but it was still a wrench leaving Inverness.
”However, St Johnstone have offered me the chance of playing European football so the decision was actually a bit of a no-brainer.
”Every time I change team, I try to step up and go forward with my career.
”I think St Johnstone will give me that opportunity to take my career a bit higher.”
He added: ”I am always positive and I have never been the type of guy who is scared of anything.
”Last season was my first in the SPL and I think it went well although I am my own biggest critic and I feel it could have gone even better.
”This season will be my second in the top league and I am determined to improve again and show I wasn’t just a one-year fluke.
”I think I have joined a really good team and I will try to work hard and be a good asset for them.”