Musa Drammeh was up all night worrying he’d made a major mistake in moving to Hearts after being bombed out of Steven Naismith’s Europa Conference League squad.
But the Spanish striker is now wide awake and convinced he’s made the correct call after finally blasting his way into new boss Neil Critchley’s first team. Drammeh has been forced to be patient following his summer switch to Gorgie from Sevilla B team in the Spanish third division. The 22 year-old managed just 42 minutes of action across three substitute appearances before being handed his first start on Sunday in the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen.
Drammeh notched a consolation goal from the bench in the 4-1 loss to Celtic to win his spot against the Dons and he is claiming the leveller against the Dons despite the ball diverting off Nicky Devlin. And the frontman is hoping it’s just the start he needs at Tynecastle after his early worries.
Drammeh said: “The day Steven Naismith told me this (about not being included in the Conference League squad) I didn’t sleep. That was so bad. But that’s football.
“They sent me a message saying I was not going to be in the squad but I’m going to have more game time. He told me I had to understand Scottish football.
“They explained to me that I came from a lower division in Spain, so I needed time to get used to Scottish football. But I think the Musa of four months ago and now is not too different. I don’t know if I played three months ago if I would have helped score these goals.
“But I think if you are a footballer, you think you are ready for that. It’s been a tough time for me because I haven’t played, I didn’t make the squads.
“And for someone who’s 22-years-old and comes from Spain to be here alone, that’s difficult. But the last few games have been worth it. That’s worth it very much.
“When you don’t play, you always think, did I make a mistake or not? But I think that’s worth it because you’re in the first division, you’re in this club with these fans. So, for me, I’m 100 percent secure. I’m going to be good here.”
Drammeh could give struggling Hearts the cutting edge they need amid a nightmare run of five games without a win that’s left them bottom of the Premiership. The Dons draw halted a slide of four defeats on the spin and Drammeh is convinced his new gaffer will get the best of him and lead a charge back up the table.
He said: “The manager told me I had been good for the last month because I was training well. That’s why he gave me the chance.
“He always talks to me in training when I’m not in the squad. He always explains to me why. That’s what I want. Someone explains to me why I’m not in the squad or why I’m not playing.
“He tells me, your mom is going to arrive. Keep training, keep training. I keep training and my chance has arrived.
“And to hear the fans sing my name, I have waited for this for five months.
“I hope this is the beginning for me. I said when I first came here I want to be remembered when I leave.
“I’ve been ready for the last four, five months. I hope I can show this now.”