A January recruit who caused some astonishment on the outside, the club knew of his potential effect both on and off the field. He was brought back north from Rotherham United. On a weekly basis, that has been proven by reliable, strong results.

Ever since he made his debut as a late substitute to help Hearts defeat Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice, he has played every minute.

He has also done this while playing with three different center backs. Craig Halkett at Aberdeen was the first. The teenage defender then took Halkett’s position during the victory over Kilmarnock, and it was Lewis Neilson. More recently, Michael Steinwender, a fellow January newcomer, has done so.

When it comes to pairing up with the latter two, McCart has been the backline leader. With Adam Forrester in the back four, it’s even more so.

“I think that was part of the discussions we had before I’d signed, looking for me to come in and try to be that [leading figure],” he explained.

As I gain experience and age, I believe I enjoy the position of striving to be a leader or a presence, whether through performance or speech. I’ll always strive to encourage and assist.

“I’ve loved it ever since I joined.” It’s everything I could have imagined. and more on the way to Hearts. The main concerns when I first learned about it were Hearts’ size and their goals.

“The club, the players, the management, and the standards I’ve set have all been outstanding since I took over. I’ve relished every second.

Last Sunday, that delight took a slight hit.

McCart was forced to revisit the experience of his two own goals in the 3-1 loss to Rangers, which was unfortunate for him. He believes that was his very first own goal in professional football.

The first goal came from Craig Gordon pushing a cross off the defenseless defender, and the second came from McCart, who, under pressure from Cyriel Dessers, diverted the ball beyond the goalkeeper as he attempted to clear it away.

The 27-year-old began to wonder if there were more sinister forces at work. Specifically, a voodoo doll of him.

“I just remember looking up and seeing it, just looping over Craigie and disbelief is probably the word,” he stated when recalling the event “I simply asked myself, what’s going on here?

“I think the first one is impossible, obviously I’m just standing there and it hits off me,” he stated. “After watching it back, I believe that even if I delay my tackle by just one second, I might be able to get it out in the second one. Since Dessers has budged me, I believe it was only unfortunate, but that’s the way things stand.

“I suppose things can happen when you’re in those kinds of settings. Unfortunately, it happened to me twice in a single game.

It was terribly regrettable; I must have irritated someone with a voodoo doll somewhere.

“After a day that was so sad, the overall sentiment was how unfortunate we were and how excellent the performance was.

“Even in their second goal, Adam blocks the ball brilliantly, and Cerny puts it in with ease.” Simply said, it seemed as though the little things never went our way and instead favored the Rangers, which occasionally occurs.

McCart has the ability to “reset immediately after” and dismiss that personal setback.

And despite some frustration with the outcome, he was eager to highlight the game’s positive parts.

“I think for going forward in the future, the gaffer said it’s more of the team he wants to see playing week in week out at Hearts,” he explained. “That style, that aggressive front-foot nature, so a lot of positives.”

Now, it’s about getting back up before what can be a crucial week in the league campaign’s trajectory. Hearts will face St Mirren and Hibs, two teams higher in the standings. But first, it’s at the bottom of the table.

Johnston. Following the team’s double in the Scottish and League Cups, McCart will make his first appearance back at McDiarmid Park.

“They’re in a really difficult position now and we’re obviously not where we want to be,” he continued. It’s going to be a tough game.

“I can’t say enough good things about St Johnstone; I adore it. Being a member of such a unique team and accomplishment for the club was an honor. Being a member of the team that achieved victory for them was truly an honor.

“Like I said, everyone around the club, the supporters, were brilliant with me during my time there.”

The days of St Johnstone are over, of course. The present and the future are in the heart. The demands, expectations, and pressures have increased. It’s something McCart is enjoying.

“When Hearts arrive at your ground, you can clearly see the following they bring,” he remarked. “I believe that applies to all away games. They travel with the greatest amount of supporters.

You have to win every game, which is a pressure that I have appreciated. One expects to win each and every game. There is also a performance level that goes along with that. They want to watch football played with a lot of energy and flair.

It is said that you don’t realize how huge a club is until you see the following and the support.

“From the outside, it appears that Hearts should be at the rear, directly behind the Old Firm. I believe we should expect ourselves to do that. That’s what the gaffer is arguing for, I believe.

Daily training requirements are tough, and he works to make sure we are the team we want to be. It has been on the rise, but you must maintain consistency. It can’t be eight games without a loss. You need to find a way to prolong that and continue winning games.