Daniel Stendel urges Hearts fans to pack out Tynecastle for St Johnstone clash as he eyes unity and upturn in home form

Daniel Stendel is determined to ensure Hearts reconnect with their supporters and make Tynecastle a hive of positive energy.

The newly-appointed manager is relishing the chance to get his first taste of his new home stadium when St Johnstone visit Gorgie today and is intent on unifying the club after a prolonged period of acrimony.

He believes a harmonious environment in the stadium, with manager, players and supporters all on the same wavelength, is crucial to getting Hearts - currently joint-bottom of the Premiership - moving in the right direction.

"For every team this is the best situation you can have but especially when you have so much support like we have,” said Stendel. “I've been in Tynecastle three or four times before without supporters.

“I hope the stadium is full for this game and we can have more power in our home games so it's very difficult for other teams to play against us at Tynecastle.

"This is what we want, to change the atmosphere so that it's positive and the players want to show that we play with passion and courage. I have a good feeling that we'll show that against St Johnstone."

Hearts have won only three league games at Tynecastle in 2019, but Stendel insists the past is irrelevant.

The German is focused on changing the mindset among the players and is excited about his first chance to lead his new team in front of the Hearts support.

Even though he has had only four days to work with the squad, he insists he has a positive feeling ahead of today’s match against fellow strugglers Saints.

“The advantage I have is that I didn’t know that!” he smiled, when he was asked about Hearts’ home struggles. “For me, this is the first game. I’m really concentrating on this game. I have the impression that the players aren’t thinking about the past, only the future – and a new start.

“I’m so looking forward to this. OK, the time has been short, but this is the job. I hear in the last days so much about Tynecastle and our supporters that I can only enjoy this game.

"When I add in my impressions from training, from the players, I have a good feeling for this match.”