Mackay joins the '400 club'

RAY HEPBURN

10 Sep 1991

IN times when freedom of contract invariably means regular staff movement, Hearts midfield player Gary Mackay becomes a rarity on Saturday, when he celebrates 400 first-team games for the club.

The 27-year-old hardly could have placed such a milestone more appropriately, just seven days after his club have moved to the top of the premier division.

The spirit, steel, and organisation that manager Joe Jordan has injected into the ability that exists at Tynecastle now have Hearts fans looking forward again, and having watched a handful of teams assembled, and then dismantled, Mackay's opinions are firm on Jordan's recently constructed side.

"We have a better balance as a team now," he said.

"The defence have conceded just one goal in seven games, and our front three have hit 13 among them.

We are better as a unit, and with a new system, and fresh faces brought in during the summer, there should still be improvement to come."

Jordan is selecting a back three from Graeme Hogg, Dave McPherson, Craig Levein, and Alan McLaren, leaving Tosh McKinlay and Mackay to patrol the length of the flanks, a role that is imposing new demands.

European moments, particularly home victories over Bayern Munich and Velez Mostar, together with domestic highlights from more than a decade, are vivid memories for Mackay.

But it was to the fans who file into Tynecastle that he turned when isolating the Hearts memory which he savours most.

"We were at Pittodrie in the league the Saturday after I scored the winner for Scotland in Bulgaria in the European Championship four year's ago.

Their reception when we went out on to the pitch was unforgettable.

Happily we earned a 1-1 draw that day, at a venue where recently we hadn't done that well."

Mackay's total of four caps has not been increased since l988, but as he embarks on the road to 500 appearances, there is hope for a return to the international scene from within Tynecastle.

While he and his mates enjoy a couple of well-earned days off, goalkeeper Henry Smith works in Switzerland with the Scotland squad, having been recalled from a long absence.

Mackay's recent form has been convincing enough for him to take a lead from the 35-year-old goalkeeper, and follow him into Andy Roxburgh's thoughts.

Taken from the Herald