What Derek McInnes is privately telling Hearts players about the title race – Ryan Stevenson

Derek McInnes is absolutely right to keep repeating the familiar “one game at a time” mantra.

If that is how he chooses to manage the growing noise around Hearts being labelled Premiership title favourites, then that is entirely his call. Still, as a Hearts supporter, I feel justified in saying that if the team beats Hibs again this Saturday, then nobody – not even the bookmakers – will be able to seriously argue against the idea that the championship is heading to Gorgie.

After all, this Hearts side has already defeated both Rangers and Celtic home and away. With that record, how can anyone realistically claim they are not the leading contenders for the title, especially if they add Davie Gray’s Hibs to the list of teams they have beaten twice this season?

It seems perfectly logical that the league’s most in-form side should be viewed as favourites for the crown. Right now, there is simply no team playing with greater consistency, intensity, or quality than McInnes’ men. That said, it is also easy to understand why McInnes is desperate to avoid putting extra pressure on his players. On that front, he has my full support.

The manager will be doing everything in his power to dampen down the title chatter and shield his squad from unnecessary distractions. However, keeping expectations in check is becoming increasingly difficult, particularly with the buzz currently surrounding Tynecastle.

Both McInnes and his players have mastered the art of giving the standard response about focusing solely on the next match. They were saying the same thing back in November when questions about title ambitions surfaced during a brief dip in form. They are sticking rigidly to that script now, even after a remarkable couple of weeks that saw them dismantle Celtic, scrape past Falkirk, and then overcome a resurgent Rangers side under Danny Rohl.

But make no mistake, that message is for public consumption only. Behind closed doors, McInnes will undoubtedly be telling his squad that they are right in the middle of the title race. He knows it, and the players know it too.

McInnes was also correct to highlight after the Rangers game that Hearts sit at the top of the table on merit. Their position is not simply the result of Celtic and Rangers underperforming. Hearts’ points total is in line with what previous championship-winning teams have achieved.

That said, they would be foolish not to take confidence from the fact that both Old Firm clubs are struggling. With a six-point lead – even if it has come from playing one more game than Celtic – Hearts have created a small but valuable cushion at the summit.

Even if they were to stumble at Easter Road this weekend, there would be no need for panic. It is difficult to imagine either Celtic or Rangers stringing together the kind of relentless winning run required to reel Hearts in.

The more you analyse Hearts’ position this season, the clearer it becomes that this is a truly special opportunity. In truth, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

I often speak to supporters who still talk fondly about the famous 5–1 victory over Hibs in the 2012 Scottish Cup final. For many, that day at Hampden represents the peak of their footballing memories. But just imagine what it would mean to watch Hearts lift a league title.

Compared to the sheer euphoria of a championship triumph at Tynecastle, that cup final would feel relatively modest. The joy and celebration would be on an entirely different scale.

That is why I hope the players fully appreciate what is at stake. This goes beyond becoming club legends. Achieve this, and they would be remembered as maroon immortals.

I am certain McInnes understands the magnitude of what lies ahead. He came close to league glory with Aberdeen, but that was during a period when Rangers were absent from the top flight. Winning the title while competing against both Old Firm giants would be an achievement of an altogether higher order.

This is why the coming weeks are so crucial. McInnes himself has acknowledged that his team will need to improve further if they are to maintain their challenge until the end of the season.

Hearts already show an impressive refusal to stand still, as demonstrated by the way they relentlessly pressed and harassed Rangers’ key players at every opportunity last Sunday. But improvement cannot be limited to what happens on the pitch.

The January transfer window will also be vital. With Tony Bloom and the Jamestown Analytics team involved, there is an expectation that Hearts will be active in strengthening the squad. The data experts will be working tirelessly to identify undervalued players who can raise the team’s level.

However, for me, the most important factor is bringing in the right personalities. What we saw against Rangers was more than just a team performance – it was a collective, a tight-knit group fighting for one another.

Rangers could not cope with that intensity or match Hearts’ spirit and togetherness. That is why January recruitment must be handled carefully. I have seen firsthand how one poor signing can disrupt a dressing room. A couple of wrong characters can undo all the good work.

Thankfully, this is where my trust in McInnes is absolute. Few managers are better at judging character, and I am confident he will add the right people – both footballers and personalities – to strengthen the squad and preserve the unity that could yet carry Hearts to something truly historic.