Stevenson aiming to impress Jim

Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson aims to show boss Jim Jefferies he is good enough to be a regular in the Jambos' first team. The 25-year-old says he has had his settling-in period after moving to Tynecastle from Ayr United in the January transfer window.And he is now determined to make his mark at the Edinburgh club by ensuring he becomes a permanent fixture in Jefferies' plans.Speaking from Hearts' training camp in Italy, he said: "I made sure I worked hard during the summer and I looked after myself to give me the best opportunity for this season."Last year was really about finding my feet and this year is about trying to make sure I'm playing every week and I'm playing well every week."It's a massive pre-season for me and that's why I'm trying to hit the ground running."The departures of Michael Stewart and Laryea Kingston means a new midfielder could be top of Jefferies' summer wish-list but Stevenson is not worried."That's up to the manager," he said. "We've got good midfielders here just now and if he brings in another one, I'm sure whoever he brings in will be a very good player."It's up to me to try to play as well as I can and show the manager that I'm one of the best midfielders here and that I'm going to play for him."However, he knows that he has to impress in pre-season training more than most after being ruled out of Hearts' Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against St Johnstone next month."It's a bit of a blow that I'm suspended for the first game," Stevenson told Hearts TV. "I got booked against Celtic in the last game of the season and I'm suspended against St Johnstone."But I've got to work hard during pre-season and in the games that I play and try and show that I'm worthy of coming back in for the game against Hamilton."That's what I'll try to do, establish myself during pre-season and show that I'm good enough to play in his team."

Source: Team_Talk