Edinburgh derby winner was the ultimate high, says Hearts hero Halkett

Craig Halkett has described his stoppage-time winner in the Edinburgh derby as the ultimate high.

The 30-year-old centre-back topped an excellent overall display in the 92nd minute when getting on the end of a Sabah Kerjota cross at the back post and sending Tynecastle wild with a terrific first-time finish.

Halkett has had no shortage of injury trouble over recent seasons with all manner of problems ranging from cruciate ligament damage to hamstring issues and further knee trouble.

However, he has started every league game for Hearts on their journey to the top of the table after seven fixtures and was clear when asked whether the goal that earned a precious 1-0 win could be termed the ultimate high after all those lows he has suffered in recent times.

‘For a single moment, definitely,’ he said. ‘With the last two or three years I’ve had, up and down with injuries, not playing as much as I’d like, to start the season, playing every game and performing pretty well is great.

‘I know it’s still early, but to top it off with a winning goal in the derby, it doesn’t get much better.

‘It’s hard to describe it, to be honest. Unbelievable. I’ve been here almost seven years and played in quite a few derbies.

‘I’d never scored, so to get my first one in the fashion I did is quite unforgettable.

‘Sabah put in an unbelievable ball and it was more just sticking my leg out and making clean contact with it. Seeing it go in the back of the net was brilliant.’

Halkett performed a golf swing as part of his celebrations and revealed there was a special reason behind it.

‘It’s a funny story, actually,’ he said. ‘We had a Hearts sponsors’ golf day up at the Fairmont at St Andrews a few weeks ago and I played with a boy, big Greg, who is a Hearts season-ticket holder.

‘He got a hole-in-one when he was in my group and said to me that, if I ever score at one of the home games, to look out to where he is.

‘Just at the last minute, I had caught him there, so I gave him a wee golf swing.’

Halkett refuses to get drawn into the conversation over whether or not Hearts can really sustain this charge to the top of the table over the duration of the season, but has no problem detailing the hugely positive mood that is building steadily within the camp.

‘I think the confidence is building every week, but, in terms of mounting a title challenge, we’re only seven games into a 38-game season, so there’s a long way to go,’ he said.

‘For the boys in there and the coaching staff, to keep getting confidence and keep winning games is only a good thing for everyone.

‘I’m feeling great, my body’s feeling great, healthy, fit, strong and I’m just really glad to be playing 90 minutes every week and putting in decent performances.’

Halkett has also been placed in more of a leadership role by manager Derek McInnes and appears to be thriving under that weight of responsibility.

‘The manager spoke to me and said he saw me as a leader,’ said Halkett. ‘He was keeping Shanks (Lawrence Shankland) as the captain, but he wanted to delegate more responsibilities, probably more things that you guys don’t see. Just helping organise stuff around the training ground and at the stadium.

‘It is something that comes quite naturally to me.

‘It does include fining people. Myself and Cammy [Devlin] are in charge of that and we’ve done pretty well this year, so it should be a good Christmas night out.’