Tullberg will be up to Marco

Aug 17 2008 Scott Mcdermott

HEARTS new boy Mike Tullberg was thrown into the lions' den of Serie A against Italian hard-man Marco Materazzi.

That's why the thought of out-muscling tough SPL defences doesn't scare him.

The Danish hitman faced Inter Milan's uncompromising centre-back in one of his first games for Reggina at the San Siro.

After emerging unscathed from his battle with the World Cup winner, the 22-year-old is ready for anything Scotland has to offer.

Tullberg arrived at Tynecastle last week as Csaba Laszlo's second major signing - on a year's loan deal from Italy.

Reggina signed him last year from Aarhus after the hitkid netted 17 goals in 58 Danish league games.

But when coach Massimo Ficcadenti was sacked five matches into Tullberg's spell with the club he was left out in the cold.

Now he wants to rebuild his career in Gorgie and prove to everyone he's capable of competing in Materazzi's company again.

Mike said: "I was bought by Reggina as a third-choice striker. They expected me to break into the team within one or two years.

"They had older forwards, Nicola Amoruso and Juan Francesco Cozza, who have scored more than 100 goals in Serie A.

"The idea was I'd learn from them and eventually play. Amoruso was the star of the club.

"He scored 103 goals in Serie A and when I arrived at Reggina they played a 4-3-3 system with Nicola playing up front on his own.

"I was supposed to watch him, learn the moves and was assured when he was finished I would play that role.

"But we changed systems.

Amoruso was told to play on the wing and I played with him.

"I was thrown to the lions right away!

"After a couple of weeks I was picked in the starting line-up for my first game at the Stadio Delle Alpi against Torino.

"The next game was Roma and then Inter at the San Siro where I came up against Materazzi.

"It was a massive thing for a 21-year-old from Denmark.

"When you play against guys like him you quickly find out how big and strong they are.

"They kick you out of the game.

But you know Italian defenders will do that and it wasn't a problem.

"It was frustrating because I felt Ficcadenti was satisfied with me.

I was unlucky he was fired.

"I've experienced a lot for a young player. I'm hoping that helps me in Scotland."

Tullberg watched his first SPL game lastweek as the Jambos beat Motherwell 3-2.

And he claims the atmosphere was better than anything he sampled in Serie A.

Mike said: "The fans in Italy are passionate. But for all that passion, the Scottish fans shout louder, sing more and make more noise."