Cammy Devlin reveals two reasons he wants to stay at Hearts and Tony Bloom's mega ambitions are one of them
Cammy Devlin admits his World Cup dream and Tony Bloom's league ambitions are two huge reasons why he wants to stay at Hearts.
The combative midfielder is in the final year of his existing deal and talks with the Australia international's agent have already taken place behind the scenes.
But it is unlikely that Devlin will make negotiations difficult with the 27-year-old loving life in Edinburgh and confident the club can help him force his way back into the Socceroos squad for North America next summer.
And hearing new investor Bloom say he wants to help Hearts achieve title glory is just another incentive.
Devlin, who is planning to help Hearts back up their opening day win over Aberdeen when they head to Dundee United on Sunday, said: 'The club haven't spoken to me but they have to my agent. Of course (I am looking for a positive outcome).
'I think everyone kind of knows my personality. You know that I enjoy being here. The city has really welcomed me.
'I feel like I've made a home in Edinburgh. I met my girlfriend over here and having her family has made everything feel a lot nicer.
'But that's not what I'm thinking of right now because I just want to play good football and then that will take care of itself.
'You've got to play well and obviously then you've got the extra carrot if there's a World Cup next year.
'And I haven't really been in the Socceroos, I obviously was injured for a little bit with my concussion and then wasn't selected for the last couple of camps.
'So that's why I'm always desperate to be involved in that. 'That's my biggest pride, playing for my country and something that I hold really close to heart.
'And I get to see my family a bit more often when I'm in the camps! So that's definitely something I want to strive towards.'
Bloom's bold comments last Sunday night at a fan forum probably caused as much of a stir in the Hearts dressing room as it did the wider football fraternity in Scotland.
And Devlin, who moved to Hearts from Newcastle Jets in his homeland in 2021, admits that is just another factor in wanting to remain at Tynecastle.
He added: 'That's a massive carrot but I think if you're at a club like Hearts you're fortunate enough as it is.
'I think it's a massive club. When I came over here from Australia and played my first game, I couldn't really believe what was happening and you still feel that now.
'I think coming into work every day, I've got some really good mates that I'm lucky enough to come in and spend my days with.
'Everything's really good and then obviously with Tony Bloom coming in - when you're at a club, you want to be ambitious.
'You want to strive towards the best you can possibly be and I'm that as a player.
'So fingers crossed it can be successful and I think it's a really exciting time for the club.'
Bloom has even claimed Hearts could split the Old Firm and finish second this season.
The players might even think that themselves but Devlin was giving nothing away when asked what their targets should be.
With a wry smile, he replied: 'It's a hard one, from a personal point of view, I know the gaffer and all the players share the same motivation.
'Because this season we're not in Europe, it's 100% to get back to Europe.
'For the fans, getting to go to the away places, when you speak to them, that's their favourite days.
'I've had mates coming over from Australia that have been to Fiorentina and stuff like that to go and watch their mate play. They're the special days that you remember.
'So definitely to get back into Europe but we've played one game and we've only got three points.
'So we've just got to keep going, keep working as hard as we can.
'And definitely one thing that I've said since I joined the club is to win a trophy and bring one back to Tynecastle.
'For that changing room, for the staff and for the fans as a whole over the journey that we've been on, to do that would be amazing.'
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