'Nobody at Hearts earns £30,000 a week' - winning mentality returns to Tynecastle thanks to different methods

Managing the squad is a delicate balancing act for Robbie Neilson and his coaching staff. Unlike those they aspire to catch, Celtic and Rangers, they can’t call upon an array of superstars earning tens of thousands of pounds each week. Utilising resources is important.

Beating St Mirren last week and Aberdeen on Wednesday gives the Edinburgh club a 12-point advantage sitting third in the cinch Premiership with nine games remaining. It is the healthiest of positions to occupy, although there is no let-up.

A recent run of one league win in six is gone, replaced by a rediscovered motivation to seize what Hearts feel is their destiny. Finishing third guarantees European football and there is belief at Riccarton that the recent dip in form is over.

Neilson must keep players physically fresh whilst also tapping into their minds to push his team over the line. No sooner had the final whistle sounded against Aberdeen than he was talking of winning at Dundee United on Saturday.

He is using every tool available to motivate players both physically and mentally. “We don’t talk about the gap,” he said in conversation with the Evening News. “We talk about playing at Hearts and winning every week.

“Whether you’re a point ahead, a point behind, ten points ahead, 15 points ahead, you need to win every single week. That’s it. The boys were back in on Thursday after the game on Wednesday night. We have to make sure we go to Tannadice and win the game. If we win that, we move on to the next one.

“You go through ups and downs during the season. Where we are as a club and a squad, it’s very difficult to be at the top level all the time. We had a right good start to the season, then we came off it a wee bit, then we got going again, then we