Yan Dhanda knew he was going to net a dream first Hearts goal against Dinamo Minsk because of a feeling in his gut. But even he could never have imagined that dramatic 94th-minute Euro winner would have arrived off his NUT.
The summer signing has 17 career goals to his name but had never scored with his napper before bulging the net in
Azerbaijan to end the Jambos’ 10-game winless streak. His instinctive finish from Lawrence Shankland’s header back across goal clinched a 2-1 win and a flying start to their Conference League campaign.
Now the 25-year-old hopes it signals the start of a winning run for the managerless Tynecastle side with a trip to face high-flying Aberdeen up next on Sunday. He said: “I had a feeling I was going to score. I said to Stephen Kingsley on the bench, I feel like I’m going to score and I’m not really bothered how it comes.
“It’s the first header I’ve ever scored! So it’s nice to score my first goal in Europe and my first header at the same time. When I knew I was coming on I just wanted to make an impact like I always do and found myself in the right position in the box.
“I was quite surprised Shanks got his head on it because it was a tough ball to deal with. But he got his head on it and it fell to me and I just kind of knew where I was in the box. I thought if I get a flick it might go in and it did. So yeah, I’m buzzing about it.
“No one really expects me to score a header but I’ve wanted to score more goals. I just want to keep contributing, assisting and scoring goals. I know when I’m on the pitch I’m capable of doing that.
“We needed a win. I said on Saturday we played well against Ross County and got a draw and I think we’ll push on from here. It’s a step in the right direction and we’ve got a massive game on Sunday now. We can just keep taking positives and keep building.”
Dhanda already has a Tynecastle terracing chant in his name and his late heroics will have further elevated the cult status he’s gaining in Gorgie. The Englishman revealed last week how his uncle Stuart, a born and bred Jambo season-ticket holder, was suffering like the rest of the Gorgie faithful through the club’s worst-ever start to a season.
But his gloom will have lifted momentarily at least after watching his nephew end the horror winless run – even if he was barred from watching it in the midfielder’s house back in Edinburgh. Dhanda said: “It would have been nice to have our fans there celebrating when I scored but at the same time I’ve scored my first goal in Europe so I just take the positives and I want to just keep building.
“My uncle will be happy. Defo. He’ll be buzzing now. He was probably at home watching it because he’s not allowed round mine – he’ll wake my little one up screaming at the TV!
“Everyone was just at their house and obviously my dad texted me. He’d be watching it in Birmingham with my mum. He texted me before the game saying, ‘When you get on, just go for it’ and obviously it has happened. I’m super happy.
“I was just dying to score my first goal for Hearts. I got my first assist at the weekend too. So I feel like everything’s looking up now.
“I’m someone who wants to play. I ain’t going to hide that. Hearts are used to winning games so it has been a difficult start to the season. But the talent we have in that changing room I’m sure will turn it around.”