Marc Leonard’s chat to Derek McInnes was a decisive factor before the Scottish-born player put pen to paper for Hearts and he declared: “This was the place for me.”
The 24-year-old central midfielder could make his debut for the injury-hit Men in Maroon against champions Celtic at Tynecastle on Sunday (kick-off 3pm) in a key game between the top two in the William Hill Premiership.
And the Glasgow-born player, who was a member of the Hearts Academy as a teenager, before moving south, said: “Once I spoke to the manager I knew this was the place for me.
“I was over the moon, the conversation went really well and I am so glad to be here.”
The 5ft 11in player is on loan from English Championship side Birmingham City until the end of the season and has previously learned his trade with Brighton and Hove Albion, on loan at Northampton Town and then with Birmingham, nicknamed The Blues.
Leonard featured in nearly every game in their charge to the League One title last season and he has appeared for The Blues in 15 league games so far this term.
He comes in to plug a gap caused by an injury to Cammy Devlin and the suspension of Beni Baningime and McInnes said: “Marc knows the club, he knows Scottish football, what it means and what is at stake, and that is a really big positive for me.
“He’s clearly a very good player and he was keen to come here and be part of something that could be very special.”
ON THE BALL: Cammy Devlin pictured by Ian Jacobs against Hibs
