Fresh from travelling away with Scot Gemmill's Scotland Under-21s team during the international break, Alex Lowry returned to EH11 with a spring in his step.

The on-loan Rangers playmaker met the media ahead of Saturday's match against St Johnstone where he discussed his time with the U21s, Aidan Denholm's impact and a hectic festive fixture list.

Here's everything Lowry had to say:

The Under-21s got some good results during the international break, does that give you confidence?

One hundred per cent. In the game against Belgium we were kept in our own half for most of the game but we had the quality to get two goals, and it put us in a great position in the group. The draw away to Hungary was a great result but we were maybe a tad unlucky with Ben [Doak] missing the late penalty. But he was brilliant in both games so I can’t really fault him.

Aidan Denholm made his Under-21s debut, is he a wing-back now?

He was brilliant there. I thought he was a joy to watch and not many attacks came down his side, so he can be really happy with his performance.

How do you feel about putting on your international at during the break and then putting your club hat back on?

To be fair it’s never really been an issue. I love going away with the national team and getting to see faces that you don’t see too often. It was a good trip and I got to see some familiar faces again.

Has Scott Gemmill said what you need to do to get into the team?

I’ve just to keep performing for Hearts, and that should hopefully put me in good stead. That should hopefully help me push to get into the starting XI for the next games.

There’s a good atmosphere around the international teams at the moment – can you bring that with you to Hearts?

Yeah, 100 per cent. Winning gives you confidence, so as long as we keep doing that we will be in a good place. The first team qualified quite early so they will all be in a good place with the Euros coming up.

Scotland players used to come back with their faces tripping them but now they are returning happy. That must be a nice change?

Definitely. I think there has been an improvement across the age groups. Obviously the first team qualified, we are in quite a good position and the Under-19s qualified for the later rounds. So there is definitely a good crop of players at all the age groups. It’s been good.

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Have you been helping Aidan Denholm settle into life with the Under-21s?

Aidan is a great lad. He is probably the hardest working trainer I have ever trained with and he gives his all every single day. He is just a nice lad. He is easy to bring into the group and you can talk to him all day.

The fixture list is busy up until the winter break, is this a chance to pick up some momentum?

One hundred per cent. The international break probably came at an annoying point because we were two wins on the bounce and playing good football. But all our focus is on getting three points and picking up more momentum going into a busy festive period.

There isn’t much between the teams in the league, a couple of wins could really catapult you up the table.

I actually looked at the league for the first time not that long ago, and I thought there would be a bigger gap than there was, everyone seems to be in and around each other. So it’s up to us to try and push ourselves away from the group and up the table.

Hearts Standard:

We’re still waiting on the big city teams to really click into gear, is this the time to flex your muscles?

Definitely. There have been games this season where we feel we should have come out with three points but we haven’t. That’s annoying, because we would have been in a better position. That’s in the past, it’s on us not to put a run of games together where we are winning consistently and winning with good performances as well. The consistency has definitely got a lot better. Myself as well, I have been a lot more consistent the past few games. Hopefully I can keep that going.

Was that down to your fitness or just trying to settle into your new surroundings?

I’m not too sure. The first couple of months I could put it down to getting to know the boys. I had been at Rangers my whole life so it was a big change. But now I am playing more consistently, I am really enjoying the position I am playing in. So there are a few factors that have come into it that have made me more consistent. I speak to the manager about what I can do to get better and he has helped me with a lot of stuff.

You missed the two recent matches against Rangers, did that make you more determined to get back into the team?

One hundred per cent. It is annoying because we have them again in a couple of weeks and I’ll have to sit out again. But that’s just part and parcel of being a player on loan. I just need to be consistent in the games I play in, and hopefully help the team win games.

Have you spoken much to Phillipe Clement?

I have spoken to him briefly, but my focus right now is on Hearts.

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