BOURNE AGAIN

Nat: We'll use semi ire to light Jambo trophy fire just like I did Down Under at Melbourne City

- FRASER WILSON

NAT ATKINSON knows Hearts fans might struggle to comprehend how Hampden hardships can be a springboard for success with Sunday's semi-final setback still raw.

But nobody needs to convince the Aussie that adversity can lead to triumph after he turned agony to ecstasy as a breakthrough kid back home in the A-League with Melbourne City.

As a result Atkinson doesn't just hope he is absolutely convinced Hearts will become winners under Steven Naismith.

The right-back was an A-League Championship and Premiership runner-up Down Under in 2019-20.

As a raw 20-year-old he wasn't sure how to digest the pain of being so close yet so far.

That was until a senior member of City's squad told him it would be the fire to light their drive to glory.

And that's exactly how things turned out.

A Premiership and Grand Final winners' medal was secured 12 months later before Atkinson decided to make the switch half way across the globe to Gorgie.

From Edinburgh he watched his old side go on to make it three A-League Premiership titles in a row.

It might be half the world away but the lessons were the exact same.

On top of that Atkinson has watched Naismith roll with the punches at the start of the season and come back stronger for it by guiding Hearts 11 points clear in third spot.