Source: Team_Talk
Mulrooney eyes 90 minutes at Well
The abolition of the reserve league means the 20-year-old midfielder has been kicking his heels on the substitutes' bench for much of the season.[LNB]After being handed his first-team debut in a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock in November, Mulrooney made only one start before his surprise call for Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Dundee United.[LNB]That only came about after captain Michael Stewart failed to shake off a calf problem during the warm-up, with Hearts already missing 13 first-team players through injury or suspension.[LNB]"I was warming up with the substitutes, just having a wee kickabout, and then got told to come back into the changing room," said Mulrooney.[LNB]"It was a bit of shock when I got chucked in.[LNB]"But I was told to go out and do my job and I just did it."[LNB]Indeed, Mulrooney was arguably Hearts' star performer on the day and was singled out for praise afterwards by manager Jim Jefferies.[LNB]The midfielder looked set to score a sensational first senior goal when a barnstorming run and 25-yard strike flew towards the corner of the net.[LNB]But United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis produced a stunning save to deny the youngster.[LNB]"I was about to celebrate, to be honest," Mulrooney said.[LNB]"I thought it was going in and the keeper got fingertips to it."[LNB]That burst forward typified an all-action display from Mulrooney, who ran himself into the ground before being replaced with eight minutes remaining.[LNB]"It was cramp in the end because I've not played 90 minutes since the 19s in May last year," said the midfielder, who admitted it was the toughest game physically he had ever played.[LNB]"You can do fitness training and you can be as fit as you can," he added.[LNB]"But the fittest person couldn't play 90 minutes football if they're not a footballer.[LNB]"You need match fitness."[LNB]Asked if he was ready for the much-criticised Fir Park pitch when Hearts meet Motherwell in the SPL, he joked: "Hopefully, the legs can take it!"[LNB]Mulrooney has been with Hearts since the age of 12 after being spotted playing for Rossvale Boys Club in Bishopbriggs.[LNB]Still living in Glasgow, he revealed his Edinburgh-based team-mates had dubbed him 'The Wee G'.[LNB]He admits he has found the step up to first-team level difficult because of the lack of a reserve league but has no qualms about being thrown in at the deep end.[LNB]"It's something that you're wanting," he said.[LNB]"You're just wanting to get chucked right in there and see what happens."[LNB]With Hearts' injury crisis beginning to ease, it remains to be seen if Mulrooney can hold down his place until the end of the campaign.[LNB]"At the start of the season, I didn't expect to play many games, or any games at all," he said.[LNB]"I've done well to get four or five appearances under my belt and hopefully it continues."[LNB][LNB] Motherwell 11/10, Draw 9/4, Hearts 11/4
