Reilly prepared to step up to the mark for Hearts
Gavin Reilly insists he will confidently step up to the mark if Hearts are awarded a penalty in their Ladbrokes Premiership meeting with Inverness.
Gavin Reilly insists he will confidently step up to the mark if Hearts are awarded a penalty in their Ladbrokes Premiership meeting with Inverness.
Jamie Walker had his spot-kick saved by Kilmarnock keeper Jamie MacDonald at Tynecastle on Saturday, scoring the only goal of the game from the rebound, before a second penalty brought another MacDonald save from Abiola Duada late in the second half.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson does not believe in having a designated penalty taker, but Reilly will definitely'' offer his services if they are required.
The 22-year-old striker said: I would like to say that if there are any penalties while I was on the pitch I would be happy to take them.
Jamie had scored against Kilmarnock the last time they played and he took the penalty and missed but got the rebound and I was off the pitch for the second one.
I've hit penalties before this season, missed one unfortunately and scored one, and at Queen of the South I hit two in penalty shoot-outs.
So I would like to think that I have got good confidence to step up and take it.
You have to be confident to step up from 12 yards with all the fans behind you and take the penalty.
I watched the Manchester City and Liverpool final on Sunday and to be honest a lot of them didn't look confident stepping up.
That is a much bigger stage than the Premiership but at the end of the day you have to be confident of putting the ball away.''
Hearts are nine points behind second-placed Aberdeen with a game in hand and Neilson is looking to move closer to the Dons when Inverness visit Tynecastle.
But the former Jambos defender is expecting a tough night against a side who beat Hearts 2-0 in the Highlands last September.
He said: We are aiming up. We are in a decent position but we want to get higher and as close as we can to Aberdeen.
Inverness have been up and down, they had a lot of injuries at the start of the season but they are starting to push on now.
They are a good team who beat us at the start of the season so we are hoping to amend that.''