Robbie Neilson has detailed his vision for summer recruit Kye Rowles as he admitted to having no doubts over his ability to play the Stephen Kingsley role.
The defender arrived as part of the transfer recruitment drive at Tynecastle as Hearts get prepared for a huge season ahead. The former Central Coast Mariners stopper has joined Alan Forest, Lewis Neilson, Alex Cochrane and Jorge Grant in putting pen to paper in the capital. Lawrence Shankland is edging closer to a six-figure move to the club.
Rowles was included in the matchday squad as a trialist against Crawley Town to get a feel for being part of the team. Kingsley, as he often does, was on target in the clash with the English League outfit, with Neilson fond of playing him in the left-sided centre-back role. It gives the 27-year-old the licence to bomb forward while also switching in and out with the left wing-back. Socceroos star Rowles has played all over the left side of the defence, and Neilson is confident he can do the same job and allow him to rotate this season.
Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
READ MORE: Hearts sign former Celtic youngster as Steven Naismith backs talent to bounce back from Hoops spell
Hearts are guaranteed eight European ties on top of domestic matters and face a packed fixture schedule pre World Cup - with rotation going to prove viral to their hopes of replicating the success of last term which seen them finish third behind Celtic and Rangers and reach the Scottish Cup Final.
Speaking to Edinburgh Evening News, he said: “I'm 100 per cent confident Rowles can do the same job.
“He's played left-back before. He's played left wing-back, left centre-half. He's similar to Stephen and it means we can rotate these players in and out. It's very important this year that we have a number of players we can move about into different areas.
“He's a good defender, he's got good athleticism, he's aggressive but he's very good on the ball as well. He'll step forward looking to play passes.
"He's very much like Stephen and Alex [Cochrane]. I think it's very important we have these players to rotate in and out. We don't want to be putting right-sided players over to the left and vice versa. We need that balance.
"None of the players will play every game. There needs to be some sort of rotation to keep them fresh and reduce injury. So guys will come in and guys will go out."
READ NEXT:
- Kye Rowles' Hearts role detailed as Robbie Neilson pinpoints position in line-up
- Robbie Neilson opens up on the Hearts plan to prepare side for European adventure
- Ben Woodburn confirms next move after Liverpool exit and Hearts loan as he could become defender
- Hearts boss Robbie Neilson explains friendship with Hibs gaffer Lee Johnson as he fires warning
