“There is going to be a lot of interest in this match because it’s two good teams, two big clubs at the top end of the table. As a player you want to be playing in these big games.

“From a football perspective it will be a good game to watch but at the end of the day the match has the same importance as every other game we have gone into. It is the same three points that are up for grabs.

“It was a very impressive performance from us when we won at Tynecastle but we know we will need a similar performance against them on Saturday if we are going to get a positive result.

“I think we have got a bit of our swagger back and we have to try and maintain that now and look to improve even more. I still think there is even more to come from us. I think we have still got more to give. “I think we’re not far off the level we were at the start of the season, which I think you can see from the recent performances. But as I say I believe there is still a lot to come from this team.

“I don’t think we reached our peak even during that great run at the start of the season. There are so many good players in this squad.

“Most teams have bad spells.

“What is important is the way you react to it. I feel we have now come through the other side. It was a difficult spell but we have now put a little run together again. It is difficult to say when it happened why it happened. It is just one of those things.

“It was especially disappointing because we conceded a lot of goals and we base a lot of our strength on our defensive work.

“We have not changed much. We have not changed how we are as a team but we have worked hard and we are getting back to how we were.

“You don’t want that feeling in the dressing room after you have not won a game. I feel it has though made us stronger and we are coming together even more. The changing room is fantastic all the time. We are all together, we all want to push on and do well for the club. We are all pulling together in the right direction. We want to improve each game, we want to improve each year. The togetherness in the changing room has always been there and always will. The togetherness in the group is great.