Gerald jumping to get going

Gerald Taylor can’t hide his excitement at becoming a Jambo and insists he is raring to pull on the maroon jersey as soon as possible.

Fresh off the back of Copa America, the Costa Rican full-back has jetted into Tynecastle to sign a season-long loan deal with Hearts.

Despite a busy summer he is itching to be involved, with friendly matches against Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon before league business starts on August 3rd against Rangers.

Speaking to the Official Hearts Website, Gerald said; “I’m really, really excited and happy to be here. I definitely will do my best for the team.

“I have just finished playing in Copa America with the national team but I want to start training because I want to get involved in the matches that we have.

“I’m excited to start training and if I get the opportunity then I will do my best in these matches.”

A serial winner back in his homeland with parent club Deportivo Saprissa, where he was decorated with many league titles, Gerald came up against one Kenneth Vargas. Now international – and Hearts – teammates, he believes the two can work in tandem to achieve great things in maroon.

“I work together with Kenneth Vargas in the national team of Costa Rica and he always tells me that Hearts is a professional team, that you always have everything in the perfect way for the players,” he said. “Kenneth will be a good teammate for me as we are both Costa Rican, and we will do our best to be winners.”

Having now seen Tynecastle with his own eyes, Gerald can’t wait to get started. Impressed with his new surroundings, he hopes to show Hearts fans both his defensive and attacking capabilities and pledges to make them and his teammates proud.

“I am a defender but I’ve got attack too,” he said. “I will always give my best, fight for every ball for the team. I like teamwork and the team will get the best out of me too.

"I have seen the stadium and it is wonderful. The fans are close to the pitch and jumping, and I will feel that from them and give them all of my effort. I will enjoy it, as a player, and help them and the team to achieve all of our goals.”