Hearts have confirmed that striker Steven Naismith has returned to Tynecastle on a season long loan from English side Norwich City.
The 31-year-old Scotland striker spend the second half of last season on loan to Hearts from the Canaries and he was delighted to continue that arrangement for the whole of season 2018/19.
Naismith told the official Hearts website he never had any doubts about returning to Gorgie.
“It was an easy decision, really” said the former Kilmarnock and Everton striker. “It was more about when we were getting it done, rather than if, which is pleasing.
“It feels great to be a Hearts player once again. I’m glad it all got sorted sooner rather than later. The uncertainty over the summer isn’t enjoyable as a footballer. All parties did what they could to get it done as quickly as possible and I’m delighted.”
“I loved my time here last season.”
Hearts Head Coach Craig Levein was also delighted to secure the services of Naismith, particularly as he had doubted it would happen at the end of last season.
“I’m thrilled” Levein told the official Hearts website. “It’s not just the fact that he’s a really good player, he’s got a great work ethic and he’s got great talent as well.
“He’s a very, very useful addition and he did well for us last season.
“I had a chat with him at the end of the season and he felt that he had a bit of an interrupted preparation for the season and things didn’t go great at the beginning with Norwich, so he didn’t really start playing competitively until he came to us in January.
“I think he was getting better towards the end of the season.
“I feel that we’ve got a bit of time yet in this pre-season to get him up to speed.”
Naismith’s influence on some of the younger players at Hearts, such as Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald, was obvious during his time at Tynecastle last season and it’s a major coup for Hearts to have the experienced forward back in Gorgie again.
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
