Barrie McKay has returned to action for Heart of Midlothian as a second-half substitute in the past two games following recovery from his third injury of the campaign.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith commended the 29-year-old on how hard he has worked to get back fit before the end of the season.

McKay is keen to have an impact in the coming weeks and he spoke to the press ahead of the Livingston clash. 

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Is it a relief to be available going into the business end of the season?

Yeah, definitely. It's been a difficult season for me but hopefully one that I'm out the other side of now and can just kick on. Coming back from injury, you want to show your worth, come back and help the team.

You did your PCL a second time, what did you learn from the first time recovering from it that helped you this time around?

I knew what it was this time! It was just as difficult, but I probably worked even harder. It was just unfortunate really, more than anything. There's nothing I don't think could have prevented it. It was an unfortunate fall and you just have to get your head around that more than anything.

The manager said he would have been deflated and written the season off as a player but what was in your mind pushing you to come back?

That I just didn't want to be injured. I had people like Halks and Boycie who don't let you think like that. You have targets in your head for when you want to be back and keep pushing for. My aim was to be back this season and thankfully I've done that. It's taken a while, but we just had to tick every box and maybe take that wee bit longer. The international break probably came at a good time because it gave me an extra two weeks and a chance to get some minutes in a bounce game.

How pleased are you with how the team have done considering the key players that have been missing this season?

They've been really good. They went on a really good run at the right time of the season. They won a lot of games that have been tight. We've done really well away from home and with players missing who could really add something to the squad. When everyone is back fit, there's real competition for places.

It will be a difficult team to get back into but that will be the next challenge?

Yeah, that's my aim. I've not been in any rush to get back in. It's a case of taking it as it comes. I've come off the bench the last few times and it's about building it up in training.

How good has the manager been in letting you work at your own pace?

Yeah, it makes a difference. You can have some managers that will want to push it, and some that don’t need you and they don’t want to, but I think Naisy’s been really good. He’s not put any pressure on that. I think it really helps when the team is doing well, you probably don’t need that pressure of trying to rush anybody back fit. He's been good with me, he’s just said, ‘Take your time, it’s even when you come back it’s going to take time to get back to what you were’ and just take it from there really and keep building it up.

Have you ever had a coach that’s rushed you back even when not 100%?

No, not really. I’ve not really been injured wherever I’ve been so I’ve been lucky in that sense that I’ve never been under that but there probably are players that have had that. But I think probably every player plays through a niggle or you’re probably hardly ever at 100%, but that’s just football.

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How impressed have you been with Naismith in his first season as a manager?

Yeah, he’s been good. It’s probably been different for me this season just with being injured but like I’ve said he’s been good with me. We’ve had lots of chats and it’s hard when you’re injured and can’t help. But I think to do what he’s done this season is a credit to him.

Have you got any targets between now and the end of the season in terms of game time or number of starts?

No, I think for me I’m just taking it as it comes now. I think before if you’d asked me I want to play as much as I can. I’ve got no limit on how many minutes how many starts or whatever I can and cannot make. It’s just about keeping trying to train well and take my chance when I play and just keep building it up that way. Like I keep saying I’ve got no pressure on me, or the manager’s putting no pressure on me to play a certain amount of minutes.

In a weird way are you looking forward to pre-season because you didn't get one last season?

Yeah definitely. Pre-season’s important, so we can get to the end of the season and then you get a little break then you’re right back in again and you’re ready to go and that’s what probably sets you up for the rest of the season, a good pre-season. I did one last year and hopefully, I can do one this year

How big a motivation is European group-stage football?

Yeah, it’s massive. I think that’s what most players will come here for is to play in Europe and obviously last year we probably fell a wee bit short with the qualifying and stuff. But no, it’s a real motivation for everybody, everybody wants to play in they sort of games and test yourself against the best players and I’m no different really. I had a chance at it two seasons ago when we done it, and hopefully I can do it again.