Steven Naismith in Hearts warning as Barry Robson friendship put to one side for £5million Euro clash

Steven Naismith has warned his Hearts side they’ll need to scrap for their lives when Aberdeen visit tomorrow – because the Dons are now a mirror image of their manager.

The Jambos’ caretaker boss squared up with Barry Robson countless times on the pitch over the years when the pair were playing on opposite sides of the Glasgow divide as well as at Kilmarnock and Dundee United. Both men have moved into the dugout but Naisy reckons Robbo’s turned the previously soft-touch Dons into hard cases like he was – and the Tynecastle side must meet fire with fire in Gorgie with third spot and a possible £5million European bonus on the line.

Hearts are looking to claw back a five-point deficit with three games left and Naismith said: “I actually get on well with Barry, we were international team-mates. He was really funny with a dry sense of humour. His team plays like he did, he was someone who worked hard and had an aggressive streak about him. I definitely see those traits in them. Then he was Under-18s manager last year, so we’ve crossed paths often.

“From me taking this role, I have an appreciation of what he’s done since going in there as interim first of all and then getting the job. He’s done well. That’s why they’re in the mix.”

Naismith reckons Aberdeen are a different animal to the side who were stuffed 5-0 in Edinburgh four months ago to send ex-gaffer Jim Goodwin towards the exit door.

He said: “Their style is different, their personnel has changed a bit in terms of the manager and some players. Inevitably, when you win games, you get confidence. So that’s changed. But we’re also different to the team that lost 3-0 up there too.”

Robson has made a huge impact in the north east and Naismith is looking to do the same