Peter Haring explains why he couldn't walk away from Hearts

The fruits of Hearts’ collective endeavour over the past two years will become clear in a few weeks when European group stage matches begin. Haring knew he simply couldn’t miss out on the big nights and the accompanying razzmatazz, which is why he agreed a new contract.

Personal injury issues subsided, he helped the club gain promotion last summer and played a key role in securing a Europa League play-off spot this year. Haring has plumbed the depths during his time in Edinburgh and is now fully entitled to scale the heights as a reward for defiance and persistence.

“It’s a reward for last season because we’ve done well enough to qualify for Europe, getting third place,” he explained. “It’s a really exciting time. With the World Cup in the winter, the schedule is going to be even busier. With Europe as well, it’s going to be busier than it has been recently.

“No-one is going to know 100 per cent what it is going to be like because of Europe. I’m looking forward to a new experience for me because I have never played in Europe so far.

He took time to consider his future during a hectic finale to last season before finally signing a one-year extension which carries another year’s option. “That was due to the circumstances as well, fortunately we had such a busy end with big games,” he said.

“You talk for a bit and then want to focus on the football, that’s the reason why it took a bit longer as well. Of course I am happy to re-sign.

“I spoke to the gaffer when he offered me to stay longer and I said: ‘I have been here four years now and I don’t want to rush into anything.’ He was great. He totally understood that but then after thinking about it, it was pretty quickly that I made the decision to stay for longer.”

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