Josh McPake breaks Hearts transfer silence as St Johnstone star tells Jambos to brace for impact
The Perth title hero opened up about his switch to Tynecastle after sealing the Championship title
Josh McPake celebrates St Johnstone’s title win
Josh McPake has spoken about his impending Hearts move for the first time and is confident he can have a similar impact at Tynecastle to the one he’s made for St Johnstone.
McPake agreed his switch to the Premiership leaders in January, but has remained tight lipped on the subject with Simo Valakari’s men in the thick of a title tilt of their own.
They were confirmed as Championship champions with a 2-0 win at Dunfermline in midweek, wrapping it up with two games to spare.
And now McPake – who has been nominated for the PFA Championship Player of the Year Award, feels he can open up a bit about joining his new club this summer.
“I’m buzzing about it,” he said. “It’s something I knew was coming but I wanted to make sure from January until now, I was focused on St Johnstone and being a St Johnstone player.
“But now that the league’s wrapped up, I can look forward to that a wee bit more. I believe in myself and believe I’ll make an impact at that club as well.”
Former Saints boss Derek McInnes was delighted to see the Perth club achieve promotion and has been impressed with how McPake has handled himself.
(Image: Eric McCowat/Shutterstock)
He said: “I’m delighted for him. I’m delighted for St Johnstone as a club. There’s a lot of people I still know there and they were good to me when I was there, so I’ve got a lot of affection for them. So yes, thoroughly deserved and great to see them back.
“And for Josh, I think when he sorted his future here for next season back in January, that was something he was really conscious of. He wanted to end things on a high, so I think that says a lot about him.
“People, maybe from looking outside might’ve been thinking ‘is he going to put the tools away now he’s signed for Hearts?’ But it’s been nothing like that at all. He’s been first class for them.”
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