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Craig Halkett: 'Craig Levein has full backing of Hearts squad'

Craig Halkett: 'Craig Levein has full backing of Hearts squad'
© Reuters
Levein's men find themselves 11th in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

Craig Halkett insists Hearts' players are fully behind manager Craig Levein despite the criticism he has received following their slow start to the season.

Levein's men find themselves 11th in the Ladbrokes Premiership table after picking up just two points from their first four league games of the new campaign.

Some fans have reacted by calling for Levein to quit but defender Halkett, who moved to Tynecastle from Livingston in the summer, says the boss has the backing of the squad.

"With the results, we've been close to getting the three points and it's been maybe one or two wee mistakes that have cost us," said Halkett, speaking at the launch of the SPFL Match Attax 2019/20 trading card game.

"So I think as a squad and as a player myself we're all behind the manager and we don't think there's any pressure there just now.

"We're just four games in and I know as fans it's disappointing, you want to see your team winning every game. But I think as players and the coaching staff, we know where we're going wrong and how to rectify that going forward."

Halkett thinks the international break came at a good time for the club as they prepare to resume their campaign against Motherwell at the weekend.

"Training-wise and as a squad, we've done well," he added. "We've worked on quite a few things defensively and going forward so we're just looking forward to the game on Saturday.

"Obviously the results have not been great so I think it came at a good time for us. Just to get a break from the league and regroup as players and as a squad and management to work on what we're doing going forward."

Halkett had been tipped for a call-up to Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for the recent defeats against Russia and Belgium.

The 24-year-old was not disheartened when the call did not come but he has set his sights on representing his country in the future.

He said: "I wasn't too disappointed. Obviously it's a big step in your career to be called up to the national squad.

"It's something I'd love to do in the future and it's something I'm striving towards.

"I think with Scotland's defensive record just now, they've got a lot of defenders who have been in and out of the squad. It's kind of varied over the last few squads.

"So I think there is a gap for other players and new players to get in there.

"Obviously that's down to the manager who he's wanting to pick."

:: Craig Halkett was speaking at the SPFL Match Attax 2019/20 launch – for more news and info follow @ToppsMatchAttax on Twitter and Facebook, @toppsmatchattax_ on Instagram and subscribe to MatchAttaxOFFICIAL on YouTube

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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