CHRISTOPHE Berra is hopeful Hearts will get the all-clear from Edinburgh City Council to open their new £12 million main stand this weekend - because he believes a return to Tynecastle will help them end their disappointing run of form.

The capital club could be forced to postpone their Ladbrokes Premiership meeting with Partick Thistle at their Gorgie ground on Sunday as they have not received a safety certificate for the stand by the council.

Hearts will be unable to play at nearby Murrayfield – where they have staged their last four “home” games – due to the fact that Scotland are taking on New Zealand in their second Autumn International on Saturday.

Read more: Furious Partick Thistle fear their game with Hearts will be be postponed - meaning nine matches in December

Berra, who was appointed captain after returning to his home town club in the summer, reckons that playing at Tynecastle will enable Craig Levein’s side to bring their three game losing streak to an end.

The 32-year-old feels that playing their games at the home of Scottish rugby – which has a capacity of over 67,144 - has actually contributed to their lacklustre displays due to the poor atmosphere generated by the half-empty stands.

The Scotland internationalist is also optimistic the return to fitness of vital players such as Prince Buaben, Don Cowie, Arnaud Djoum, Aaron Hughes and Jamie Walker will help Hearts, who have lost to Hibernian, Rangers and Kilmarnock in recent weeks, recover from their slump.

“We need to kick on and move forward now,” he said. “We have had a few injuries in midfield and that has probably cost us. We’ve been relying on young boys and it’s a big ask at the age of 16 at a club like Hearts if you are not winning.

“It’s a harsh learning curve. We’re a work in progress, but we need to learn quickly and start doing better as a team.

“It’s disappointing to lose at home to Kilmarnock because we feel those are the teams we should be beating. If that had been at Tynecastle with a different atmosphere it might have been different.

“Murrayfield is a great stadium, don’t get me wrong, it’s brilliant. But the atmosphere isn’t as good. That’s what Tynecastle gives you and the players thrive on that. We also need to step up and cut out the silly mistakes and create more chances as well, and when we do that we need to take them.

Read more: Furious Partick Thistle fear their game with Hearts will be be postponed - meaning nine matches in December

“There will be a lot of pressure on us as well to do well when we get back to Tynecastle, but I think everyone will be happy. It’s home comforts. It will be a bit more intimidating for other sides as well and when we’re on top and scoring goals it will be more atmospheric.”

Berra added: “It will be massive to get some of the injured players back. Don came back in against Kilmarnock and made an impact, Arnaud is an international footballer, he won the African Cup of Nations, he’s a big player.

“So to get these players back, it’s a bit of experience as well, a bit of muscle, a bit of know-how and physical presence.”

Levein was forced to put his faith in teenagers like Jamie Brandon, 19, Harry Cochrane, 16, Euan Henderson, 16, Lewis Moore, 19, when his more established players were sidelined and Berra believes they will ultimately benefit from their involvement in the first team.

“Young Harry (Cochrane) came in and did brilliantly, but he’s only 16-years-old and he’s a small guy. There are bigger and stronger players who might just bully him. That will be a great experience for him and he’ll only get better.

“People don’t realise the Hearts fans can be very demanding and if you are not going well they’re not happy. So you have to be a special character to deal with that, you need to blank it out and keep on playing.”

Berra, though, has no issues with the criticism which the Hearts players have been subjected to by their own supporters during a disappointing run of form which has seen them slip to sixth place in the top flight table.

Read more: Furious Partick Thistle fear their game with Hearts will be be postponed - meaning nine matches in December

“That’s football for you,” he said. “Hearts are regarded as one of Scottish football’s biggest clubs and there’s an expectation there.

“At the moment we have not got the squad, I think the gaffer will in time mould the squad he wants and we’ll get better, hopefully in January. But that also means we all have to step up as well, there are no easy games, every team has made changes.”

Meanwhile, Berra has predicted that a bright future lies ahead for the Scotland national after being impressed with the youngsters who caretaker manager Malky Mackay fielded in the friendly against the Netherlands at Pittodrie last week.

Mackay handed debuts to Ryan Christie of Aberdeen, Jason Cummings of Hibs, Ryan Jack of Rangers and Callum McGregor of Celtic and also started John McGinn of Hibs and Kenny McLean of Aberdeen.

“I thought they all did well,” said Berra. “It was a big game to come into against a top nation. Maybe they’re not the best team just now, but they still have good individual players. To come away and make their debuts wasn’t easy. I thought the midfielders were very composed and did well and can be pleased with their performances.”