Had you asked at the end of last season if I would take Hearts being seven points clear at the top by the November international break, I might have thought I was speaking with Vladimir Romanov.
It says a lot about how far this team have come in a short time that supporters were bemoaning the fact we could only draw with a Dundee United side that moonlights as a Harlem Globetrotters tribute act, given their sheer physicality and height.
The reality is, had any Hearts fan been offered four points from home and away games against Jim Goodwin’s side in the first half of the season, you would have gladly shaken on that.
The international break comes at a good time and allows us to prepare properly for the trip to Pittodrie on 23 November. That fixture will no doubt be difficult given our poor record at Pittodrie.
Craig Gordon has yet to feature for Hearts this season but what a story it could be if the 42-year-old gets the nod to start for Scotland in the World Cup qualifying double-header against Greece and Denmark.
Plenty of people have written off Gordon in his advancing years and he will be fired up to show doubters he still retains his talents.
At the other end of the pitch, Lawrence Shankland has deservedly earned a recall to Steve Clarke’s squad.
I don’t hold much hope Shanks will get many minutes of action as he will probably be fourth-choice striker despite scoring more club goals this season (10) than the other three – Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams and George Hirst – combined (nine).
Given the fairytale start to Hearts’ season, here’s hoping Gordon and Shankland can bring that Tynecastle stardust to the national camp and we’re looking into the odds of the duo lifting the Scottish Premiership and World Cup trophies in 2026.
