New Hearts striker JJ Williams says he was ready to "run through a wall" for his new team-mates after watching them secure Conference League football until Christmas in dramatic fashion.
The American watched Wednesday's penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna from his hotel room after completing his move to the Tynecastle club from Rhode Island.
The 25-year-old was particularly impressed by goalkeeper Beau Reus and Calvin Miller, who battled through cramp before scoring his penalty in the shootout.
"I watched it in my hotel room and you talk about, I felt like a kid again because I was jumping on the bed," Williams said.
"The saves that Beau made at the end, but the performance and the absolute shift that the guys put in. Calvin was cramping everywhere possible and he was still running at 120 minutes and then steps up and smashes a penalty in the back of the net.
"You talk about a performance to watch for the first game, seeing as a signed player, I was ready to run through a wall for those guys, so it was good."
Williams has been on Hearts' radar for more than a year and arrives after playing in the United States. He will go straight into the squad for Saturday's Scottish Premiership meeting with St Johnstone and is relishing the prospect of playing in front of a packed Tynecastle.
"It was giving me goosebumps while I was there in an empty stadium," he said. "So, I can't even imagine whenever it's packed. I'm super excited.
"There are ups and downs along the way. It wasn't a straight path for me to get here.
"But I can tell you, because of all those ups and downs, you want it so much more now that I've landed in this spot."
Leave a Comment