Source: Team_Talk
Hamill's penalties request
Jamie Hamill has no problems taking on the Hearts heavyweights to stake his claim as number one penalty taker at Tynecastle.[LNB] Hamill, signed from Kilmarnock in the summer, confidently took the ball from burly striker John Sutton when Jim Jefferies' men were awarded a spot-kick five minutes from the end of Sunday's friendly against Royal Antwerp and smashed in the winner with his first goal for the Gorgie club.[LNB]Fellow new signing Sutton took the penalties for Motherwell last season while the Jambos' regular penalty taker, the muscular Kevin Kyle, is still recovering from a hip problem.[LNB]However, Hamill revealed an impressive record from the spot to back up his belief that he is now the man in possession.[LNB]"Big Sutts grabbed the ball and I just asked him for it," he said.[LNB]"I think he scored a few last season but I scored more.[LNB]"I think it was eight all in. I scored seven and got the rebound for one and I think I scored about four or five in previous seasons.[LNB]"So I was willing to step up.[LNB]"I had a laugh in training with big Kev because he said he was hitting them when he was fit.[LNB]"He's a big boy and you don't want to argue with him - but I think I will get to the ball quicker.[LNB]"Hopefully in the next game I'm playing we will get a penalty and I will take it."[LNB]The versatile 24-year-old was praised by Jefferies for his performance in the right-back position.[LNB]"It's different going out there as a Hearts player - I didn't get as much abuse, although that might come," he joked.[LNB]"I'm looking forward to the season and it's good to play at Tynecastle as a Hearts player.[LNB]"The fans are brilliant and it will be good playing here this season."[LNB]The former Scotland under-21 player is suspended for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against Rangers at Ibrox next Saturday.[LNB]However, Hamill is confident that Jefferies - who has also added midfielder Mehdi Taouil and defender Danny Grainger to his squad - has the tools at his disposal to shock the champions.[LNB]"Why shouldn't we be confident?" he said.[LNB]"Rangers haven't signed that many players and we've added to the squad.[LNB]"We have two players for every position.[LNB]"We still have a lot of the boys from last season but it's good to add new faces.[LNB]"It was also good to add the players at the start of the summer instead of them coming in dribs and drabs.[LNB]"We can't dwell on them too much. With the squad we have, we are capable of beating anyone on our day so hopefully we can get three points."[LNB]Hamill added: "I'm suspended for the first two games of the season, so it is a difficult situation for me.[LNB]"Going to Ibrox for the first game of the season and not being able to feature is difficult.[LNB]"But there's nothing I can do about it, I just have to get on with things."
