Severin won't be swayed by sentiment

PAUL KIDDIE

NINE years at Tynecastle will count for nothing when Scott Severin runs out for Aberdeen against Hearts tomorrow.

The powerful midfielder established himself as something of a hero with the Gorgie faithful during his time with the Jambos, playing a key role as Craig Levein’s side firmly established itself as the third force in Scottish football.

The Scotland internationalist, though, decided to pursue his career elsewhere after turning his back on the cash-strapped club at the end of the season after more than 150 first-team appearances in maroon.

Having made no secret of his desire for a new challenge in England, the 25-year-old was widely expected to find employment south of the Border.

It came as a major surprise, therefore, when new Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood persuaded Severin to front his Pittodrie revolution, the midfielder becoming the former Dunfermline chief’s first signing of the summer when he put pen to paper on a two-year deal in June.

The ex-Jambo made his competitive debut for Aberdeen last weekend as the Reds opened their SPL campaign with an encouraging goalless draw at home to Rangers, evidence that Calderwood is already having a significant impact in the Granite City.

Severin is set to keep his place for tomorrow’s trip to the Capital and while he will take the opportunity to catch up with some of his former team-mates, he has made it clear there will be no old pals’ act once referee Kevin Toner gets the action underway. "Although I spent a long time at Tynecastle I am an Aberdeen player now and will be doing all I can to leave Edinburgh with three points," he said.

"Hopefully I will get a good reception from the Hearts fans but there will be no sentiment when the game starts. Hearts have a really good home record against Aberdeen and this match will be just as difficult as the opener against Rangers.

"If we work hard and show the same commitment as we did at Pittodrie against Rangers we can get a good result." Tynecastle has certainly not been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Dons recently, Calderwood’s men arriving in Gorgie tomorrow having managed just one point from eight games over the last five years.

That point came thanks to a 0-0 draw in November 2002 and incredibly they have mustered just one goal during that barren run, Robert Bisconti scoring in his side’s 3-1 defeat in January of that year.

Although the depressing sequence has seen Hearts smash 16 goals in reply, a large army of travelling fans is expected to descend on Tynecastle tomorrow to roar the Dons on, a prospect appreciated by Severin.

"There has always been a lot of potential at Aberdeen because of the size of their travelling support," he said. "They always brought a large fan base to Tynecastle and at times the fans can be like an extra man for the team. Against Rangers the fans really got behind us and it gave the players a real boost.

"If they can turn out in numbers again to support us at Tynecastle hopefully we can do our bit on the park. I want to help get them back up to the top half of the league where they belong.

"There is a good squad of young players at Pittodrie so I just don’t know why they struggled so much last season. The gaffer wants commitment and hard work and that was certainly on show against Rangers.

"If we get stuck in again and battle hard there is no reason why Aberdeen can’t get a win at Tynecastle."

The battle between the former Jambo and Hearts’ midfield powerhouse Phil Stamp will not be for the faint-hearted. The Englishman may have been surprised to see his former team-mate sign for Hearts’ SPL rivals - but he was even more taken aback when ex- Middlesbrough star Noel Whelan headed north of the Border.

"I spent nearly two years with Noel at Middlesbrough. He’s a terrific player and I think he’ll score a lot of goals for Aberdeen," he said.

"I’m surprised they have both ended up at Pittodrie. I know there were a few English clubs in for Noel and I was really surprised Seve didn’t find a club down south.

"But that has been Aberdeen’s gain and I’m sure he’s looking forward to coming back to Tynecastle.

"Seve is a great player and did a fantastic job for this club. It’s just a pity we couldn’t keep him.

"He will be a big player for them and I am sure he will have been giving Aberdeen the lowdown on us.

"But there is nothing we don’t know about him and no quarter will be asked or given tomorrow.

"With two homes coming up it was a crucial win for us over Dundee last week.

"We now have the chance to consolidate although it’s going to be tough as Aberdeen have already shown against Rangers that they are looking a better side than last season."

Taken from the Scotsman