Calem Nieuwenhof Q&A: Hearts form, Vargas bond, beating Hibs

The Aussie spoke to the press following the victory as he discussed his consistency, goals, knowing what Hearts fans love and his bond with Kenneth Vargas.

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Thoughts on the game?

I'm happy to get another goal. I think I was able to get involved and link the play-up moving forward. All around I was happy with the performance.

Do you feel you are growing into this Hearts shirt now?

Yeah, for sure. I'm definitely going into the team with that consistency. I've been playing week in, week out for the last few rounds. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable in the team and getting used to the way we play and the way we want to break down teams. I've been happy to play a role in Sunday's game and the last few games. I've been happy with how it has been going.

The manager said you are reserved and it may have counted against you to begin with. How do you feel about that?

He's not wrong, for sure. I'm a bit more of a laidback, reserved kind of guy. Coming over here, to Scotland, football is so different. You can't really be reserved on the pitch as I've learned. You need to go into every game with that mindset that you are going to have to get stuck in and get involved. That's something I have really learned across the last few months and brought it into my game and just trying to get consistency into that side of my game, the physical aspect.

Does Cammy Devlin help with that?

Cammy's great to learn of. He's a real dog and a really aggressive player. For sure that is something I can take from his game 

What were the conversations like with the manager in the first few weeks at the club? 

I honestly couldn't be any happier with the support Naisy has given me during the whole time I have been here. From the start, he said it was a massive move for me coming from the other side of the world, a completely different style of football and lifestyle as well. He's always said to me it is going to take time to settle in and get used to the league, the way teams play over here. I couldn't be more grateful for the trust he has put in me. I'm just really happy to get some consistency and play consistently and hopefully reward his faith.

Off the field do you feel home now in Edinburgh?

For sure. I'm still getting used to the cold! The city is awesome, I've really settled in and the boys have been great as well. We've got such a great bunch of guys in the dressing room. Everyone gets along as well which has made it that much easier. 

Who are you close to in the dressing room?

The Aussie boys. They've been easy to talk to and all that. And Kenny Vargas, we carpool together in the morning so we spend a lot of time together so it's been good.

How's your Spanish?

It's getting there! It is still pretty basic. He's been teaching me Spanish and I've been teaching him English.

Is a big thing recently, the message to you shoot more?

Yeah, probably. That's something I want to build into my game moving forward. Getting forward and getting into those positions more. I think goals and assists will naturally come when you are getting into those positions and helping the team link up.

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Two goals in three minutes for you and Kenny, that will be a good conversation in the car?

We'll be buzzing. I couldn't be happier, especially with Kenny because I think he has really grown into Scottish football and going through a similar transition so that's made it all the better.

Have you looked back and watched videos of Hearts winning trophies?

I've seen it and heard about it as well. The two main things the Jambos love, winning trophies and beating Hibs. I'm well accustomed to what the fans want here. I think we are in a great position at the moment on the ladder, we're in third comfortably. We know if we keep winning and putting more distance between us and the rest of the pack it will go a long way in the last couple of months of the season. And the cup is obviously something we really want to push for and hopefully go on a deep run.

You are going to play an in-form Championship side in the next round but you dealt with something similar against Airdrie?

Yeah, it has definitely given us confidence. We know every game is a real challenge whether it is a Premiership team or a Championship one. Any team can be dangerous so it's something we can go into and not take our foot off the pedal and go 100 per cent. I think we showed that on Sunday, getting the early goal then the second goal and third goal it really calmed the nerves and allowed us to settle into the game.