Aidan Denholm in Hibs confession as Hearts diehard looks to recreate iconic Edinburgh derby moment

Aidan Denholm admits he would love to create another Alim Ozturk moment for the Hearts fans at Easter Road.

The diehard Jambo was in the away end when the defender scored an incredible injury-time equaliser from 40-yards in the October 2014 tussle with Hibs. That strike has gone down as one of the most iconic derby goals and midfielder Denholm can still vividly remember celebrating wildly with his dad. Denholm said: “This game is everything really, you want to get bragging rights over the other team in Edinburgh.

“I have never played in one but I know what it means as a fan and I know the fans are passionate about winning it. I have been there as a fan, winning away, and it’s amazing. I was actually there when Alim Ozturk scored the equaliser. I was in the stand with my dad for that one and it was probably one of the most iconic ones. When he was lining up that shot I was thinking ‘not a chance’, but he had the quality and it was a moment to remember.

“I was at the 3-1 one when Conor Washington and all that scored [March 2020], so I know what it takes to win and I’m hoping I can play a role in that this time. Every Hearts fan wants to play in a derby, it would be amazing.

“You can see my passion and that’s what I want to do but I don’t pick the team. I will just be ready, no matter what. I have never experienced it as a player but I can’t wait. It is something that I’m looking forward to. It’s a derby and all the boys will be up for it and that’s two wins on the bounce now so we are going into it with a bit of momentum and we will be ready.”

If anyone is to send the Hearts fans into celebration like Ozturk did it is likely to be free-scoring striker Lawrence Shankland. The Scotland international took his tally for