news-engine

Exclusive:Tomas Magnusson claims a slice of Hearts history but ranks Hibs goal higher than Benfica The Icelander’s Europa League strike was one to remember Only Alex Young and Tomas Magnusson have the unique distinction of scoring for Hearts against Benfica at Tynecastle Park. With one raking left-footed shot on Thursday evening, Magnusson joined exalted company alongside the legendary Golden Vision. His powerful 22-yarder was indeed memorable, although he was quick to point out that he scored a more vital Hearts goal last season. “I scored a more important goal against Hibs, but this is probably the biggest team I've scored against,” smiled the Icelandic midfielder, speaking exclusively to the Edinburgh News. “It's good for me to get a goal for myself. It just keeps that confidence up. Last week, Tom [Renaud] showed he can score and stake a claim as well, so we're all putting in a shift. Whoever is called up on a game day, we'll just show what we can do. “The ball fell in front of my left foot so I just put my laces through it and put it in the corner. Thankfully, it was a good hit. I just think we were a bit low in that final third of the game and when we got those transition moments, if [Blair] Spittal wasn't going, I just went for the run. I'd done it two or three times and then it just fell for me and I got the goal. It’s one to go in the memory bank, definitely.” Magnusson entered the field as a 64th-minute replacement for the aforementioned Renaud. His energy and running power immediately gave Hearts fresh impetus, and he found the net 13 minutes later. Unfortunately for his team, Benfica equalised two minutes later and the prospect of a rare victory over one of Europe’s giants was extinguished amid a 7-2 aggregate defeat in the Europa League third qualifying round. Hearts now face Rapid Vienna in the Conference League play-off, with the first leg at Tynecastle next Thursday. Goals from midfield are worth their weight in gold, as any manager will tell you. Magnusson has the ability to get forward and ripple some rigging from time to time. “I think I'm a box-to-box midfielder. If I get in both boxes, a few goals will come and hopefully they keep coming,” he said. “It's important wherever you are on the pitch, but if you can get a few goals from midfield that's obviously important if the strikers aren't on it or aren't scoring that many. Last season, we had Stu [Findlay] and Halks [Craig Halkett], I think they had 12 goals between them. So now if we can get as many goals from wherever, it's just a positive.” European thoughts are parked for a few days while Hearts entertain Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Premier Sports Cup at Tynecastle. Cup progress was conspicuous by its absence last season as Hearts exited both the Premier and Scottish early against St Mirren and Falkirk respectively. The frustration still lingers. “Yeah, and I think it should,” remarked Magnusson. “That was a huge disappointment and keeping that in the back of your head, that should be a disappointment and fire you up to do better this season. “Every competition is vital and we want to do well in every one. Last season was a blow in the ups, but obviously we want to play as many games as we can and get all the way in the Premier Sports Cup. It'll be a really big one on Sunday before we go into an even bigger game against Rapid Vienna. It's a big tie against Inverness. Winning a Cup is something everyone wants to do as a player. It's just as big as a European competition game, but obviously the play-off game is huge and we've just got to focus on one game at a time.” Magnusson has yet to play from the start under Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken. A fractured cheekbone ended his season prematurely in March but he is now staking a claim for a place. “Obviously, I want to be on that pitch starting week in and week out,” he said. “If my role will be coming off the bench, putting in a shift and matching the pace of the game week in and week out, that will be something I'll have to deal with. Ideally, I'd want a run of games and get to the rhythm of what the manager wants.” Score another goal like Thursday’s beauty and he will be a difficult man to leave out. “Yeah, if I do that then he might use it,” smiled Magnusson.