42 bookings in five years but Black says he's a 'quiet boy'

PACKING a potent level of determination in a small frame, Ian Black has promised to bring grit to Hearts' midfield while curbing the aggressive streak which marred his disciplinary record during five years with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Standing 5ft 8in and weighing not much more than nine-and-a-half stone, Black's lightweight physique didn't prevent him from emerging as a midfield enforcer at Inverness who collected 42 yellow cards and one red during his time with the club.
As a young player making his way in the game, Black was perhaps in danger of becoming too tenacious for his own good during season 2006/7 when he was booked a dozen times and sent off once in just 23 appearances.

Since then he's become more professional and was cautioned six times in 31 games in 2007/8 and nine times in 38 matches last season. It's a practical trend he's determined to maintain at Tynecastle. "People have knocked me in the past," acknowledged the 24-year-old. "I've curbed that (side] a bit. I like to think of myself as a bit of a quiet boy now. I like to get on the ball. I think that's my strength. I like to pass and keep possession. But everyone needs that bit of grit. "

Having grown up as a supporter of the club, Black is understandably eager to make a mark in the passionate atmosphere of an Edinburgh derby. "All the derbies I've watched over the years, I've always said to myself that I'd love to play in any one of them," he said. "I watched the last couple and they were really exciting games. You can be cute on the park, everyone's cute (these days]. Derby matches are big games. It's a massive event in Edinburgh and I'd love to play and come away with three points."

Since it remains to be seen how Csaba Laszlo intends to deploy Black, it's possible he could fill the holding midfield position which Cristos Karipidis played with distinction in the first half of last season. On the other hand, the Scot doesn't rule out occupying the more advanced role vacated by Bruno Aguiar.

"I'm a football player who is here to play," he reported after turning up for his first day of training as a Hearts' player. "People look at me following Bruno Aguiar and there are similarities there. He was great for the club but is away now. I'm here to try and stake a place in the squad. I wouldn't like to say I'm here to do anything in particular, just what I'm asked to do.

"I'm not sure if they are missing an ingredient. The team did really well last season and now the manager has brought me in to make a contribution. He'll watch me in pre-season and then sit down and speak to me. Whatever he asks me to do, I will try and do that to the best of my ability."

While he expects to bring drive to his play for Hearts, Black reckons Csaba Laszlo already has all of his players on the same page when it comes to rolling up the sleeves and working as a unit.

"When I watched Hearts last year it was clear that the manager has everyone playing for the shirt," he observed. "The team showed they were a good team and not just individuals playing for themselves. I want to be passionate and play for the jersey and the manager. He's the one who knows how to bring the players together and I want to be part of that."

Although the departure of Aguiar removed a sheen of polish from Tynecastle, the club's resources in central midfield remain strong and Black knows he will need to perform in order to secure a regular starting berth alongside Michael Stewart and Ruben Palazuelos.

"It's going to be challenge for everyone to win places," he noted. "I don't think anyone has a starting number or position yet. It's up to me to work hard in pre-season. I'll be the same as every other lad. I'm sure whoever he picks for the first game of the season will be the right decision.And if I'm in that starting XI then I'll be delighted."

After joining the club where he worked as a ball boy – his father, Ian, was also once on the playing staff as a full-back in the late Seventies – Black is eager to slip on a maroon jersey for the first time. "I'm sure we can get very close to Rangers and Celtic," he insisted. "We've split them before and there's no fear factor about doing it again. The manager will have us buzzing at the start of the season and if that's the case then there could be a few upsets."