Nathaniel Atkinson reckons bonding over a language app can help him strike up an understanding with Yutaro Oda.
The Aussie defender and Oda impressed as a right-sided partnership in Hearts’ friendly 1-1 draw at Dunfermline. Atkinson hopes linking up with the Japanese ace will be a big feature for the Jambos this season. He believes Oda, 21, could be a revelation after settling in through the second half of last term.
The attacker joined from Vissel Kobe, making seven starts including one with an Edinburgh derby goal. And thanks to some tech that’s got them talking off the pitch, he and Atkinson can be a major hit on the Tynecastle turf. Atkinson said: “Every day we get closer. I find out different things about Oda, he finds out some different things about me. It’s good to understand the person before the footballer and I think we have been working at that. I look forward to more minutes with him.
“To be fair, Oda is getting better with his English. But we’ve got a translation app, you speak into it, it’s good. It’s important for him too, to bond with the boys a bit. I think we’re all expecting more from him. You can see the type of player he is from last season. He’s highly rated from Japanese football. He’s a great guy but an even better footballer.”
Atkinson’s outing against the Pars was his first after a brief summer break. He was still busy in mid-June, chasing Argentina’s world champions around a Beijing pitch.
The Socceroos were defeated 2-0 in the friendly seven months after losing a World Cup last 16 tie to the eventual winners. Lionel Messi scored his quickest ever international goal after 79 seconds. It was all uphill from there on for Atkinson, Hearts pal Kye Rowles and St Mirren duo Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain.
Atkinson said: “It was a full side from Argentina, which was a good experience because I didn’t get to play against them during the World Cup. To share the pitch with those types of players – Di Maria, Messi – was definitely a good run-out.
"We set up to play a certain way and you’ve got to hold your own. The manager says, ‘It’s just 11 shirts against 11 shirts’ and you must win your individual battles. After that, the rest takes care of itself. Luckily, Messi wasn’t on my side, so it was better. Rowlesy was dealing with him!”
Michael Smith’s Jambos exit means Atkinson is the only experienced right-back available to Frankie McAvoy and his coaching team. The 24-year-old impressed in Steven Naismith’s interim spell as the new regime used inverted full-backs.
Atkinson added: “It’s enjoyable, it’s different to the last couple of seasons. But I’m used to that from Melbourne City. That was our style so it’s not uncharted territory.
“The coaching staff have given me a bit of freedom to work with others, to try find those gaps. Back in my younger days I was a midfielder, so I’m not uncomfortable going there.”
