A Calm Amid the Chaos: Assessing Marc Leonard’s Debut vs Celtic

Nine years after signing his first professional deal with Hearts, Marc Leonard finally made his Tynecastle debut on Sunday — and the stage could not have been bigger.

He spoke after the match about his desire to work with Derek McInnes, the whirlwind of the last 48 hours, and how different life felt back at Hearts, but it is his performance, not just his words, that deserves attention.

Celtic at home, in the most important game of the season, with big boots to fill replacing Cammy Devlin — many players would have crumbled under that pressure. It takes a certain type of character to provide a calming presence on the ball amidst the chaos, and Leonard did exactly that.

A Frantic First 10 Minutes

The opening ten minutes saw Leonard look like a lost figure in central midfield, struggling to handle the pace of the game. Celtic’s aggressive press seemed to hurry him, leading to untidy passing and a visible sense of panic as he found it difficult to get a foothold in the game. Whenever he did manage to get on the ball, it felt as though he was immediately swarmed, the pressure and intensity of the fixture amplifying any minor errors.

That uneasy start was compounded when Leonard conceded the free kick from which Benjamin Nygren would eventually score. In those early moments, he appeared overwhelmed by the demands placed on him, as though he was reacting to the game not dictating it. With expectations already high following his arrival, his early struggles were perhaps magnified his shaky start, making those first ten minutes feel harsher than they may have actually been.

Running the Rhythm

So what changed after those first ten minutes? In truth, nothing. If anything, Leonard became even more willing to get on the ball. Rather than retreat after a shaky start, he leaned into responsibility.

Throughout the afternoon he regularly dropped alongside Halkett and Findlay, offering himself as an option even with pressure tight to his back. It felt as though that early mistake cleared his head; once it was out of his system, he played with greater freedom, settling into his natural game.

Leonard’s game is built around conducting. He is a tempo-setter, someone comfortable putting his foot on the ball and dictating the games next steps. His football intelligence stood out — an acute awareness of his surroundings, an understanding of when to open the game and when to try break lines.

One of the clearest examples of his quality came with a perfectly weighted through ball that released Landry Kabore, forcing Auston Trusty into the challenge that resulted in the much-debated red card. It was a reminder that Leonard is capable not just of controlling games, but of altering them.

His influence extended to set pieces as well. Leonard’s delivery adds a new dimension to Hearts’ already prolific routines, most notably with the corner that led to Findlay’s goal. From early on, the trust placed in him to take corners and free kicks was clear, and his deliveries consistently created danger.

On Crowd Control

Equally impressive was Leonard’s feel for the occasion. He knew when to draw a foul to relieve pressure, give his teammates a breather, and calm the crowd. His understanding of what it means to play for Hearts was evident; at times, he seemed to read the mood of the stands and deliver not what the fans wanted, but what they needed on the pitch.

But, make no mistakes he understands how to do the other side. Leonard knew when to step out of shape and apply an aggressive press, prompting a reaction in the stands and lifting the tempo when it mattered most. He was not only a controller on the pitch, but one who had the fans marching to his beat. That grit — willingness to fly into tackles and physicality despite his stature — complemented his technical quality.

Vital in the Run-In

Looking ahead, Leonard’s performance carries real significance for Hearts. He offers a different midfield profile — one that could become increasingly valuable as the pressure grows in the run-in. He brings title-winning experience from Birmingham, but more importantly, he provides calm.

In matches where Hearts may dominate the ball but struggle to break teams down, Leonard has the creativity and composure to unlock stubborn defences. And in moments where urgency threatens to become anxiety, having a midfielder who wants the ball, believes in his ability, and can slow the game down may prove invaluable.