Coyne's career back on course with hat trick

IAN PAUL

14 Aug 1989

Hearts 1, Celtic 3

FEW players admit to themselves, let alone the world, any apprehension about their future, perhaps afraid to tempt the fates in a notoriously fickle business.

But if Tommy Coyne harboured secret concerns about his first full season with Celtic he removed them with impressive efficiency at the expense of Hearts.

The former Dundee United and Dundee striker had laboured diligently without spectacular results in his limited number of appearances after he had joined his favourite team in the spring, but a hat trick in the opening game of the season would rate fairly high on anybody's list of recommended tonics.

The great hoo-ha over

Maurice Johnston's transfer and the excitement of Jacki Dziekanowski's immigration from Poland tended to leave Coyne as a bit player in the rehearsals for the new term, but once the curtain rose the 26-year-old showed that he relishes the spotlight.

A scorer of 37 goals in one record breaking season for Dundee, Coyne cost Celtic £500,000, and for that money some decent return is anticipated.

He made a startling contribution at Tynecastle, where he and his mates had established a commanding, virtually unassailable lead by the time the locals got around to playing somewhere near their potential.

"The goals could not have come at a better time for me," said Coyne, with a neat appreciation of the understatement.

"Obviously, supporters like to see you scoring goals and I want to do that regularly for them."

Establishing a bridge between himself and the Parkhead aficionados has not been easy for Coyne, who has had the Frank McAvennie image as well as the Johnston publicity to overcome, but he will discover that once the bridge is built it will stand much battering.

The presence of Dziekanowski is a big help, according to Coyne.

"He has great skill and once he gets a few more English lessons I'll understand him a bit better.

Whether it had been him or Johnston, I would have been happy to play alongside international players of their standard."

Unfortunately for Celtic, Dziekanowski suffered a severe knock on his instep and is doubtful for the Skol Cup-tie with Dumbarton at Boghead tomorrow.

He had to go off the field eleven minutes after the interval, but before then he had done enough to confirm the high hopes Celtic have of him.

As one man drops out, another comes in, however.

John Hewitt, signed from Aberdeen, is likely to wear a Celtic shirt for the first time tomorrow.

"He will give us greater options," said McNeill.

"He is a player of experience and versatility."

However well he does, or anybody else for that matter, he will not be more important to the Parkhead cause than Paul McStay, who was in one of his terrific moods.

Other times he is great, good, or sensational.

Hearts had no-one to compare with him and, indeed, only John Colquhoun

was in commendable form in an attacking sense.

Defensively, despite the loss of three goals, Hearts did all right, with Dave McPherson outstanding.

The weight of pressure on Henry Smith and his colleagues as their own midfield was erased from the action inevitably led to chances for Celtic.

Even so, it needed a penalty to set them on their way, when Musemic pushed Aitken to give away a rather needless spot-kick.

Coyne's well struck effort was almost halted by a magnificent dive from Smith, who got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it crossing the line.

Before half-time Coyne added his second, whipping in the ball after Aitken, well serviced by Galloway, had cut it across goal.

He kept his best for last, smacking in a fine shot after Fulton and McStay had set up the chance.

Appropriately enough, McPherson headed in a late score for Hearts, who might well have been given a penalty near the end.

That might have made the score more respectable but it would not have fooled any of the local sympathisers among the 25,932 in attendance.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, Kirkwood, Levein, Berry, McPherson, Colquhoun, Mackay, Musemic, Ferguson, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, Kidd CELTIC -- Bonner, Morris, Burns, Aitken, Whyte, Grant, Galloway, McStay, Dziekanowski, Coyne, Fulton.

Substitutes -- Rogan, Walker.

Referee -- D D Hope (Erskine).