Sabri Guendouz insists his Hearts time is coming despite spending most of the season waiting for his chance. The Frenchman was an £850,000 signing from Beerschot in the summer, but has made just nine appearances for the Jambos so far this term – three in the league – and only four of them starts. Fans have mostly been impressed with what they've seen from the attacking midfielder off the bench.
Wouter Vrancken has preferred Calvin Miller and Josh McPake on either flank, while Claudio Braga has been dropped into the No 10 position behind James Wilson in recent weeks. But a lively cameo in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby helped the visitors regain control of the game. Guendouz showed what he can bring to the table, linking especially well with fit-again record signing Eduardo Ageu.
Guendouz backs himself to break into starting XI
The 26-year-old is confident it's just a matter of time before he forces himself into the starting line-up. "For me, Calvin, the other attackers in the team, they are really good. I think I have the quality for play. It is the coach who decides," he told the Edinburgh Evening News. "But for me to get in the side, yes, I keep working. I keep trying every day to best myself in the training. And in the game, the same, just be focused, just confidence. And it's not just Sabri, it's Hearts, it's the team. I will play a lot of games. My time is coming."
"I got a chance on Saturday against Kilmarnock. I want to play in the left, in the right, in attacking midfield or number 10, you know, and I attacked with the other players. For me, I have the quality, dribbling, creating the chance, creating the space, very instinctive. I don't compare with the other players. I have the quality and me, yes, I just need to be humble and just stay in my time."
"When you start, when you don't start, it's different, you know. But when you start, you have time in the game for a goal entrance, for the confidence on the ball. And when you go on the bench for the game, yes, it's very quick, you know, you don't have a lot of time. And for me, yes, I am happy. For me it's just the beginning. I think I have a lot of time for my adaptation, for the football in Scotland, for the team, for the coach. And yes, for me, when I am here, I try to be my best every day."
Kerjota's pride at first Albania call-up
Part of the reason Guendouz has had to be patient is Saba Kerjota's contribution. The Albanian isn't a regular starter either, but tends to make things happen when he's thrown into the fray. He has been speaking of his pride at his first ever call-up for his country ahead of their clash with Belarus on Saturday.
"It has been a long journey - I started playing football quite a while ago - so this feels like a significant milestone and a reward for my hard work," he said. "Now the goal is to win every upcoming match. It is an emotional experience because representing Albania with the national team is the pinnacle of a sporting career."
"It is deeply moving to wear the Albanian jersey before a match begins, but it also serves as a huge source of motivation to give my absolute best for the Albanian people—both those in the stands and the many watching on television. I am truly filled with emotion at the prospect of representing the country."
Albania target top spot in group
"Our goal is first place, we must focus on every match. There should be no underestimation of the rival. We have a lot of confidence, because we have a good group, and we will succeed. Undoubtedly, first place is our objective. We have to take each match in turn. There are no easy challenges anymore. We have to give our maximum. I hope that in the end we will achieve the objective, we have to work hard.
"Coach Maran will play more with the ball so we will be more offensive. These days we have been working more with the ball, on how we will get ahead. I hope that what we are working on with Maran will also come true in the game. We all like coach Maran's system, I hope we will succeed."
