Robertson insists that final will not be his swansong

In the age of the Bosman ruling and short-term contracts the chances of anyone clocking up such an impressive playing record with a Scottish club in the future is remote.

At the age of 33, many people believe this is the little striker's last chance of bringing home a winner's medal in a distinguished playing career which has included international honours and enough runners-up medals to fill a trophy cabinet - second class, of course.

As he talks in his recently opened pub across from Tynecastle stadium, Robertson is a man who would give highly paid sports psychologists a run for their money. A more positive thinker you could never meet, a man who does not dwell on sentiment or what might have been.

Asked to look back over his career, Robertson reluctantly does so but prefers to look forward to the cup final and beyond. As to the sentiment over whether the cup final may be his last game in a Hearts jersey, he does not see why it should be, believing he has a couple of good years left in him yet.

It is clear that 18 years in the top flight has made Robertson mentally tough and focused on the challenges ahead. He is a man who looks like he would not suffer fools gladly and dismisses any talk of Hearts winning the cup because it is their destiny as nonsense.

Confidence in his own ability, especially after his latest league performances, which have been praised by his manager Jim Jefferies, is there for all to see.

Also, his status as a cult hero, one who has scored more goals against Hibs - the team he supported as a boy - than any other player, has given him a place in the Hearts hall of fame.

In his pub there is memorabilia on the walls which charts his career from the time he made his full debut alongside his brother, Chris, in 1982.

In the following season he hit 21 goals in 23 games, including three hat tricks. From then on it was clear that a Hearts legend was in the making.

Turning his attention to the belief held by some people that the cup final on Saturday could be his last hurrah, Robertson answers that the same belief was held two years ago, when Hearts were beaten 5-1 by Rangers.

''As each year goes by you have to accept that there is a possibility that it might be my last chance but nobody knows what the future holds, you just have to keep going,'' said Robertson. ''I want to be part of the cup final but it's obviously down to the manager.''

Accentuating the positive, Robertson said that even in 1986, when they lost the league on the last day to Celtic, and then the Scottish Cup final to Aberdeen, was an important learning experience.

''Although we lost the double, at least we were in there challenging for it. I'd rather be in their challenging and losing than not being challenging at all.

''Like Paul Ritchie was in tears after the 1996 cup final against Rangers, I was the same 10 years earlier at Dens Park when we lost the league. That feeling that Paul and I had on those different days instils determination and improves your resolve and will to win.

''Saturday is another final for Hearts and until we win a trophy people will always think of us as the bridesmaids. People might even suggest we would have bottled it again but it's ridiculous to say we have bottled anything.

''We have earned the respect by our performance in the league and we have got to another cup final which proves we have the ability.

''If we win it it has been a fantastic season, if we lose it has been a very, very good season.''

Asked, inevitably, how good the current Hearts side is compared to those previous Hearts sides he played in, Robertson was adamant he did not want to get over sentimental on the issue.

''I don't believe in comparing players from the past with those in the current side,'' he said. ''It's all about the present, it's all about the future.

''Older generations have seen great Hearts players in action and for people to say a player in the present side reminds them of someone from the past is nonsense.''

With the future in mind, Robertson praised the youngsters in the current side who have helped Hearts reach the final and sympathised with one of them, club captain Gary Locke, who looks likely to miss the final through injury.

''The old adage that if you're good enough, you're old enough comes to mind with people like Gary Naysmith, Paul Ritchie and Gary Locke.

''The three of them may be young but they are level-headed lads, they come in and work hard. They have great respect for their senior professionals which is very, very important.

''Sometimes young lads come in and are a bit of a jack the lad, who have a bit too much to say for themselves.

''The two Garys and Paul are very professional, they work hard and listen well and want to learn from the older pros and there is no doubt in my mind that that attitude is what helps them get on in the game.''

As Saturday approaches, most neutrals will be hoping that the little striker is included in the cup final squad.

However, with his positive thinking it is likely that, even if he is not involved the Hearts legend will bounce back to give good service to football, either as a player or a coach in the coming years.