Robbie Neilson insists he is happy with Hearts ' squad depth but still wants to add a trio of new faces during the transfer window.
The Jambos have a new number nine in Lawrence Shankland after they paid Beerschot an undisclosed fee to land the former Dundee United striker on a three-year deal this week. Kye Rowles, Lewis Neilson, Alex Cochrane, Jorge Grant and Alan Forrest have also joined as Neilson gears up for a European adventure.
The Tynecastle club kick-off their Premiership campaign at home to Ross County on July 30 with the continental action in the Europa League play-offs starting on on August 18. The capital club are guaranteed group stage football regardless of the result, with defeat seeing them drop into the group stages of the Europa Conference League That means they will have to cope with playing Thursday and Sunday on at least eight occasions between now and November.
Despite being relatively well stocked already, Neilson knows he needs to to bolster his options. Recent midweek friendlies away to Tranmere and Preston North End were arranged to get the players used to travelling then playing again in a short timeframe.
Neilson, whose team host Stoke City on Saturday in their final warm-up game following Wednesday’s 2-1 set-back in Preston, said: “The priority now is to try and get another centre half in, potentially another centre midfielder and then another number 10.
“We waited for Rowles and waited for Shankland, we’ve got a couple of targets we’re looking at but it might take a bit of time. I’m really happy with our squad at the moment, we can start the league campaign and we can be comfortable - we’ve got options in different areas. We just want to add a wee bit more to it again.”
Neilson is hoping Cammy Devlin will be available for the clash with Stoke after sitting out the Preston friendly with a hamstring complaint. Winger Josh Ginnelly also missed the Deepdale encounter with a thigh injury but is unlikely to play against the Potters.
Neilson added: “Ginnelly has still got a wee bit of a problem with his thigh. Cammy had a wee tweak of the hamstring and just with his previous history last year we kept him out but I would definitely expect Devlin back for Saturday, Ginnelly maybe the following week.”
The clash with Stoke is also doubling as Gary Locke’s testimonial and Neilson hopes fans turn out in their numbers to show their support to the club legend. Hearts favourites Rudi Skacel and Pasquale Bruno are among the former players returning for the game.
Neilson added: “Hopefully it’s a great turnout, everyone knows Gary is Hearts through and through. He is a real Hearts man, stood on the terracing as a kid, played for the club, captained the club and managed the club. It will be a great day and hopefully it will be a good turn out for him because he deserves it.
“I’ve not seen Pasquale for 20 odd years, it will be nice to see him. Rudi as well, a legend so it will be good to see all these guys coming back.”
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