Jake Mulraney in action for Atlanta United in their 2-1 win over Nashville SC

Eyebrows were raised when chatter just before Christmas suggested Jake Mulraney was the subject of interest from MLS side Atlanta United. The former Inverness Caledonian Thistle winger had been involved in all but three Hearts matches before the Boxing Day Edinburgh derby defeat at Tynecastle to Hibs, which turned out to be his last match in maroon.

Now, in the same week that his former employers played their rivals off the park to record a 3-1 win at Easter Road, things are also looking up for the 23-year-old. He is set to make his home debut for the Georgian outfit – alongside former Hibs midfielder Emerson Hyndman, whom Mulraney came up against when Hearts won in Leith in 2018 thanks to an Olly Lee goal – when they host FC Cincinnati later today, and he won plaudits for his performances in a CONCACAF Champions League last 16 tie with Honduran side Motagua and during his MLS bow against Nashville SC in Tenessee.

Scottish football v MLS

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Speaking in the lead-up to the Five Stripes’ first home game of 2020, he spoke to reporters about adapting to the American game.

Reflecting on his MLS debut at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, he said: “I loved it – 59,000 [fans] at the game is crazy.

"We did well and I thought we were comfortable enough. For the last 15 minutes we were under the cosh a little bit, but we saw it out and got the three points and that's the main thing.

"I've played in front of [similar crowds] at Celtic Park and Ibrox and cup finals, that sort of thing. Those games were quite hostile whereas here, it's a bit more chilled out and more supportive.”

Mulraney was played as a left and right winger at Hearts as well as occasionally being deployed as a wide midfielder and an auxiliary striker. In the red and black of Atlanta, he has been operating as a left wingback in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Defensive improvements will come

“Playing as a wingback, I think I did okay," he told reporters. “My defending was okay apart from towards the end when I got nutmegged but I said it a few weeks ago; as the days go by and I get fitter I think I'll feel more comfortable [defending].

“Personally, I lose fitness pretty quick. You can do all the running in the world, but it’s a lot different than playing an actual match. But I get fit quick. More training, one or two more games, and I’ll be fit, no problem.”

Asked to compare Scottish football with MLS, and Hearts with Atlanta United, Mulraney said: "From what I've seen so far I feel like the majority of the games, we'll have a lot of the ball, so I think teams will tend to sit off. Whether they do or not is a different story but I personally feel we have the quality to play out if we do get pressed."

Quizzed on how Hearts set up to play the likes of Celtic and Rangers, Mulraney added: “Against Rangers and Celtic, if you sit off you're just going to get picked off.

“From experience, we [Hearts] sat off and just got picked off but if you get after them, you create chances for yourself. But the Scottish Premiership is a lot different to this league, a lot different.

“It's just a different style [of football in the USA compared to Scotland]. Across the water, the long ball tends to be a little more attractive, I think it's utilised a lot more over in England and Scotland than over here.”

A quick glance at Mulraney’s stats from the 3-0 victory over Motagua – who had former Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre on the bench – suggests he will do well in the left wingback slot even if, by his own admission, he needs to work on the defensive aspect of his game.

Mulraney and fellow wingback Brooks Lennon won three tackles each – more than any other Atlanta player – while the former Hearts man won six of his 12 defensive duels. At the other end of the pitch, five of Mulraney’s crosses were unsuccessful, but he still completed 83 per cent of his balls into the box.

De Boer’s praise

Atlanta head coach Frank de Boer, another Scottish connection thanks to his spell with Rangers, has been effusive in his praise for Mulraney and Lennon.

Speaking to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the Motagua win, the Dutchman said: “Jake and Brooks, they have the speed, and the work ethic to play the position, the whole flank. They did really well.”