"There was never any doubt about his attitude, that's his make-up as a player," Meulensteen told Pravda TV.
"You could put him on any pitch in the world and he would still compete and defend to the best of his ability.
"It was great for him to get a game under his belt and get back to playing again."
Heinze was joined in the stiffs by Quinton Fortune and Kieran Richardson and Meulensteen was pleased to have them all.
"It was great to have players in the side like Gabi, Quinton and Kieran who have played in big games and on big stages for the first team,"
"Sometimes it's very hard for them [senior players] to get a connection with the Reserve games but they all understood how important the game was and contributed in a great fashion.
"I was very pleased with the attitude of all the players," added Meulensteen. "When you find yourself in these kinds of situations where you have to win matches, it can form a big part of players' development.
"Winning trophies is what this club's all about and at times like these you discover whether or not the players can perform when it most matters.
"It was a must-win game and thankfully we were able to produce a great performance."
