JORGE Grant is confident he will be able to handle making his European debut for Hearts this week - after listening to Nottingham Forest greats Steve Chettle and Des Walker talk about their time in the upper echelons of the game.
Grant, a summer signing from English Championship club Peterborough United, is set to start for the Tynecastle club in the first leg of their Europa League play-off double header against Zurich in St Gallen on Thursday night.
The 27-year-old, who scored his first goal in Scotland in a 4-1 rout of Dundee United in a cinch Premiership game in Gorgie on Sunday, admitted that playing at such a high level was a major attraction about moving to this country.
He started out in the game at two-time European Cup winners Forest and often heard from Chettle and Walker – whose footballer sons Lewis and Tyler are close friends as well as godfather to his own son – about their past experiences.
The midfielder understands that overcoming the Swiss champions and securing a place in the group stages of the competition will be a tall order despite the indifferent start their rivals – who are without a win in five Super League games and are currently in bottom spot in the table – have made to the 2022/23 campaign.
However, he is looking forward to the forthcoming matches and believes he knows exactly what to expect after listening to two of Forest’s most famous former players recounting their exploits with club and country.
"Obviously, Forest have got so much history,” he said. “You can tell that from the fans' passion. When I was there they were nowhere near the level they had been, but obviously they have gone on to so well, which is good for them.
“I actually know a few people who used to play in Europe for them. I know Steve Chettle and his son. So I know about those European nights at Forest. To have some of those up here would be great.
“I know Des Walker and I know both his sons as well. Tyler was two years below me at Forest. We grew up through the system with each other. When I made my debut it was at a similar time to him. He and his brother are godfather to my son, so that's how close we are with his family.
"Des is a really nice guy. He has given me the odd bit of advice here and there. He has spoken about his England memories and Steve Chettle has talked about his European experiences. There's a few crazy tales in there.
“Steve was one of my coaches when I was coming through the academy at Forest and was fantastic with me, talking about the stages he has played on and the experiences he has had, including Europe.”
Forest, who are back in the English top flight this season after a 23 year absence and beat West Ham at home on Sunday, enjoyed many memorable European victories at the City Ground in their heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Grant believes that Tynecastle is just as intimidating an arena for away sides and predicted that if Hearts can give a good account of themselves in the Kybunpark on Thursday night they can use the home crowd to their advantage in the rematch.
"It's very similar to Forest,” he said. “When the crowd is with you, it's a top atmosphere. Both games that I've had in the league have been really good and enjoyable. You can tell it's a massive advantage having the crowd in a stadium like this. If we can go to Zurich and get a good result anything can happen here (at Tynecastle).
"When I was making the decision about which club to join in the summer, I could have gone back to League One and done the same thing that I've done for the whole of my career.
“This opportunity was something that was completely different. It was a step out of my comfort zone, playing in Europe and playing in the SPFL. I'm delighted with my decision.
“We were totally focused on Dundee United last week, but we are looking forward to Zurich game now and making sure we can get a good result.”
