LET'S GET READY TO HUMBLE

New Jambo Altena says it was worth it to step down in Dutch league to get games he needed

- DARREN JOHNSTONE AT TYNECASTLE

JORDI ALTENA admits his bold career gamble has paid off after going from the Dutch amateur ranks to the Scottish Premiership summit within a year.

The right-back impressed on his Hearts debut in Saturday's narrow victory over Livingston as the Jambos moved six points clear at the top.

Altena was thrown straight into action just days after sealing a switch from Waalwijk in a deal in excess of £500,000.

The 22-year-old only spent six months with the second-tier outfit after joining from non-league side De Treffers. And Altena insists going to the bottom of the ladder has been the perfect springboard after leaving Vitesse Arnhem in summer 2024.

Altena said: “It’s a crazy journey! It was a disappointment because I had to leave my old club Vitesse.

“But the training of the team I went to, De Treffers, just gave me such confidence to get back to where I belong.

“After one year that happened - and then I came right back and now I'm here.

“So it can go really fast in football.

“At De Treffers we played in front of about 500 fans but that level was really good.

“I think with that combination I experienced a lot and now I am who I am. So it's a lovely story.

“If you see the other side, you get humbled.