Alex Cochrane insists a siege mentality can help Hearts dig their way out of an injury-plagued rut - even though he’s never known anything like it.
The Jambos’ woes hit new depths last week when the number of first team players in the treatment room hit double figures after a defeat at Aberdeen that saw them slip to seventh. It’s reached a point where supporters were naming a solid outfield 10 out of the crocks including a spine of Craig Halkett, Kye Rowles, Beni Baningime, Peter Haring and Liam Boyce. Those five remain unavailable for the lunchtime visit of champions Celtic as Robbie Neilson looks to end a five-game winless run.
Cochrane, who admits the gruelling schedule of domestic and European fixtures has taken its toll, says there can be no excuses ahead of another hectic week with games against the Hoops, RFS Rigas and Ross County. In fact the 22-year-old reckons they can use the despair to drive them on. Cochrane said: “I’ve never known so many players to be out before. This is the first time it has happened to me in my career.
“A siege mentality? I think that's what it's doing. We know we have to proper dig it out, everyone who plays at the weekend. We need everyone.
“Criticism is all outside noise. We don't really look into it that much. We've got quality in the changing room with international players in there.
“We've got a squad that's tight together and we will get through that sticky period. We trust in what the gaffer says to us and how we go about it over the weekend.
“The boys' spirits are still high. We have to approach it with a positive mindset.
“If we play our best stuff then we definitely feel we've got a chance.
“Injuries are part of football. The players we've got out are in key positions for us. We've got plenty of players who can come in and certainly do a good job. I don't think it can be used as an excuse.
“Performances haven't been what we wanted, we know that. We're looking to improve it and push on toward the November break.
“We’ve got a game in hand over Hibs, who are in third and are three points ahead of us, so if we win that it's a completely different story.
“The mental side of things is something I've had to adapt to. Some weeks are harder than others.
“Last week was a hectic week for us with the flights to and from Italy and then going up to Aberdeen.
“But it's part of football and something you want to be doing. That's what the best players do and we feel we can be doing that every single season here.
“I think this is the kind of game we wanted - a 12.30pm kick off on TV.
“Celtic come to town, we know they're going to be at it, the crowd are going to be at it, and we need to produce as well.
"It's a challenge that you look forward to.”
For form to turn Hearts need to start converting chances. Cochrane was the chief culprit at Pittodrie on Sunday as he fluffed his lines from six yards and still he’s struggling to explain what happened. He said: “No comment, mate, I'll miss that one!
“We sat down and spoke about it. We're just in a period right now where the chances aren't going for us.
“I was guilty of it at the weekend, but we still need to keep creating chances. If we do that then we'll start to score.
“With Lawrence Shankland, Stephen Humphrys, Barrie McKay, we've got players who can create those chances and put them away.”
Cochrane was a spectator at the AMEX Stadium when VAR made its big debut in English club football.
That was nearly five years ago and the former Brighton youngster admits he’s still getting used to watching it on TV as he prepares to play in the first live televised game using the technology in Scotland this afternoon.
The Seagulls beat Crystal Palace 2-1 with a late Glenn Murray winner the only incident that went to the video assistants in that FA Cup tie in January 2018.
And Cochrane said: "I was actually at that game. There was a potential handball for Glenn Murray's winner.
“Just being in the stadium was a bit of a weird experience. Since then you've seen how much VAR has helped football come along, it's only a positive for the Scottish game.
"We had a meeting with the referees at the start of the season and they said what the protocol would be. There might be a little bit of a delay after goals are scored, or actual VAR situations.
“We are just going to have to get used to it. It's the first time I've used it but I think it will be a positive for the game.”
