After a flurry of early transfer business, the Hearts squad is having the finishing touches added ahead of the first game of the season.
Robbie Neilson moved swiftly to bolster his numbers ahead of a European campaign that will see the Jambos play in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League group stages. Alan Forrest arrived from Livingston on a free transfer while Alex Cochrane is back on a permanent basis after last season's loan from Brighton. Lewis Neilson was snapped up on a free from Dundee United, leaving Hearts well stocked at the back.
Jorge Grant will add an extra attacking dimension to midfield. A cut price fee was agreed with Peterborough United despite him having a £750,000 release clause. Sporting director Joe Savage made a midnight dash to Malaga airport to pick the new boy up so he could join Hearts on their pre-season training camp in Spain.
Australian international Kye Rowles committed to life in maroon a while back, but international duty and via red tape meant he only arrived in Edinburgh last week. He was named as a trialist fort the friendly draw against Crawley Town at the weekend, but didn’t come off the bench.
Strikers have been the priority for Neilson in recent days, and he looks like getting his man. Lawrence Shankland is in the capital ahead of finalising a switch from Beerschot. The Scotland international will reunite with Neilson after producing the goods under him at Dundee United. Another forward will likely be on the wishlist to complement Shankland, Liam Boyce and Euan Henderson.
It now begs the question; what is Neilson’s strongest team? The back five pretty much picks itself, even after the blow of losing John Souttar to Rangers. Number one between the sticks isn't even worth debating, while Craig Halkett was imperious in a campaign that saw him called up for Scotland, while defensive colleague Stephen Kingsley must surely be knocking on the door. Cochrane will resume his left wing back duties and it’s likely Toby Sibbick will fill the Souttar void at right centre back.
Neilson can also switch to a three, which would likely see Sibbick drop out and allow Grant to play as a ten to give Hearts an extra body further up the pitch. Peter Haring has signed on after considering his options towards the end of last season. The Austrian proved to be a key man in midfield after Beni Baningime’s long-term injury, and he and Cammy Devlin will be the preferred duo in the engine room.
Ahead of those two is where it gets interesting. Neilson sees Grant as a number ten, but he can also play deeper when required. Liam Boyce can drop into the hole thanks to Shankland’s arrival, with him being a more traditional number nine ahead of the Northern Irishman and McKay,
Boyce has also played wide of a front three on occasion. Barrie McKay’s displays since signing last September mean he;s one of the first names on the team sheet and tends to operate coming in from the left. Forrest’s strong showing over pre-season could put him in pole position to play wide right of a three, but there will be occasions he plays right wing back in place of Nathaniel Atkinson.
Predicted Hearts XI for 2022/23
READ NEXT
