Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Joining Hearts was an "no-brainer" for defender Jamie McCart as he looks to make his first start against Aberdeen on Sunday.

The former St Johnstone centre-back, 27, moved from Rotherham to Tynecastle last week on a deal until 2029.

"I'm delighted to be here," he said. "It's an obvious decision when a club like Hearts come in for you and they were so keen to get me. I think that made the decision all the easier.

"I had no plans of coming back up. I was really enjoying it down south. But like I said, a club the size of Hearts with the ambitions they've got as well, it's a no-brainer.

"It was a pretty easy discussion to have with them. It went quite smoothly. I spoke with a gaffer in [sporting director] Graeme Jones and they sold it to me instantly."

Hearts have won back-to-back games for the first time this season, but still sit 11th in the Premiership table.

McCart, who made his debut off the bench to help see out victory at Dundee United on Sunday, said: "I think it's always the same at a club like Hearts, the ambitions and standards that the club and the fans demand, which is to be up close at the top of the table and competing for a cup.

"I think the boys have had an unfortunate start to the season, but performances on the whole have been good and probably misled the position in the table."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts boss Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before his side's trip to Aberdeen on Sunday.

Here are the key points:

• With Liam Boyce set to join Derry City, Critchley says: "He quite rightly wants to play, he's got an opportunity hopefully to go and play more football. He's been brilliant in the last few weeks and he's a great guy."

• The head coach doesn't want Kye Rowles to move on, with a move to the MLS expected, but says "sometimes those things are taken out of your hands".

• Critchley is furious at the "unacceptable" leak regarding Cammy Devlin and his contract clause, said to be around £280,000, amid interest in the Australia midfielder.

• He says: "It wasn't accurate anyway, but we've not had anything from any other club regarding Cammy."

• On Devlin, Critchley adds: "Cammy's been fantastic, I love his personality, I love his infectious enthusiasm. He's a winner, he's a competitor and you want as many of those around you as possible."

• The Tynecastle boss believes there is a long way to go before he will have the squad he wants as it is not possible to "solve" the problems in one transfer window.

• Critchley is wary of Aberdeen and their current run - 10 games without a win and five losses in a row. He says they "will win at some point".

• New striker Elton Kabangu is in the squad after his work permit issues were resolved. There are no other players returning from injury yet, although Lawrence Shankland isn't far away.

When these sides last met at Pittodrie in October, Aberdeen were unbeaten and second in the league, while Hearts were bottom without a win.

How times have changed.

Jimmy Thelin's side are stuck in a winless rut, having gone 10 games without victory – including five defeats on the trot. They have slipped down to fourth.

After their latest defeat by Motherwell, where they also lost defender Slobodan Rubezic to a red card, the Swede conceded his side have "problems to solve".

They need to do so quickly if they are to avoid matching their worst losing streak of seven since December 2010.

Amid this slump, where they appear short of the confidence that developed through their 11-game unbeaten run at the start of the season, they have often given themselves an uphill battle, conceding the first goal in seven games since their last win.

While it makes for grim reading, the glimmer of hope is Hearts are in town. The Dons have not lost to Hearts at home in the Scottish Premiership since May 2017.

However, Neil Critchley's side are two from two in 2025 and are eyeing three league wins in a row for the first time since February last year.

On the back of arguably their best win under head coach Critchley against Dundee United on Sunday, the maroon mood music has changed for the better since the Boxing Day derby defeat by Hibernian.

At the heart of that has been James Penrice, who grabbed the crucial goal at Tannadice. The former Livingston man has been a bright spark in an often dull season for the Gorgie side.

If Hearts are to end their Pittodrie hoodoo on Sunday, the left-back will no doubt have a part to play.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts are set to lose two of their senior players over the next week.

Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce is returning to his homeland to join Derry City before the new League of Ireland campaign kicks off next month.

Boyce, 33, joined from Burton Albion in January 2020 and has made 124 appearances for the Tynecastle club, scoring 36 goals.

And Australia defender Kye Rowles is poised to for a move Stateside to join DC United.

Rowles moved to Hearts from Central Coast Mariners in 2022 and signed a contract extension the following January to 2028 after impressing for Australia at the World Cup in Qatar.

The 26-year-old made his 100th appearance for the club in the derby defeat to Hibernian on Boxing Day.

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Hearts have held talks with Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong, 27, who is on course to be a free agent at the end of the season. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch is confident of completing the signing of Hearts forward Liam Boyce, 33. (Derry Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Although this season has been a struggle for Hearts, the breakthrough of 17-year-old striker James Wilson has been a real bright spot - something to provide hope for the club's supporters.

His ascension to a starting role has coincided with an upturn in Hearts fortunes on the pitch, a much-needed injection of energy in forward areas given the well-documented struggles of Scotland international Lawrence Shankland.

Wilson has started six of the last seven league games, scoring two goals - both in the draw against Ross County - and Hearts have taken 13 points from an available 21 in that time.

He is averaging a league goal every 145 minutes and with four goals from eight shots has a conversion rate of 50% - impressive numbers for a player so young and raw.

Having netted five in 14 appearances in all competitions, Wilson - who last month signed a contract extension to summer 2026 - is Hearts' joint top scorer this season with Blair Spittal, who has played almost three times as many minutes as the teenager.

Perhaps Wilson's most notable strike came at Easter Road in October when he earned Hearts a point against Edinburgh rivals Hibs, and the youngster's sudden rise was hammered home the next day when he went into school.

"The funniest moment was I went in the day after the derby, and I saw a janitor," Wilson told Sky Sports. "He asked me if I watched the game and I was like 'I scored in it'. The whole day he was just staring at me like I'm some weird guy.

"The feeling, the adrenaline going through you when you score that goal is crazy."

Wilson praised head coach Neil Critchley for backing him to succeed, and revealed a lofty target for the years to come.

"You have to give the credit to Neil Critchley giving me the opportunity to play," Wilson added.

"I'd love to play for Scotland - that's the future, that's what we're trying to work towards."

• Aberdeen have won their past nine home league games against Hearts since a 0-0 draw in December 2017, while they haven't lost at home to Hearts in the league since May 2016 (1-0).

• None of the last 22 league meetings between Aberdeen and Hearts have been won by the away side (17 home wins, 5 draws), with Aberdeen the last visiting team to win this fixture in May 2017 (2-1).

• After winning 10 of their first 11 league games of the season, Aberdeen have failed to win in 10 (D3 L7), losing their last five in a row. Not since December 2010 have the Dons endured a longer league losing streak (7).

• Hearts have won both of their league games in 2025, but haven't won three in a row in the Scottish Premiership since February 2024 (run of 6).

• James Penrice has been directly involved in four goals in his last seven league appearances for Hearts (2 goals, 2 assists). He has never scored or assisted more in a single Scottish Premiership campaign.

Hearts forward Liam Boyce, 33, is close to joining Derry City. (Record), external

Barrie McKay and Yutaro Oda are told their Hearts careers are not necessarily over, despite a lack of first-team appearances. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Meanwhile, new Hearts forward Elton Kabangu, 26, may have to wait for a starting place at Tynecastle. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Hearts' recent wins against Motherwell and Dundee United may have been narrow in terms of the scoreline but there was an authority throughout both games that has been missing for most of the campaign.

Even in the disappointing draw at Ross County, the majority of the performance was an improvement, despite the two dramatic late concessions.

So what has changed on the pitch? The answer is not too much. The team have been playing with a consistent 4-2-3-1 formation, with Blair Spittal and Musa Drammeh providing width and crosses into the opposition box.

The return of Liam Boyce has clearly helped teenager James Wilson whose ability to press and finish has been evident since his promotion to a starting role.

And when the defence has been breached Craig Gordon has made some top saves, despite his role in Hearts' Dingwall collapse.

But if Hearts fans think they are out of the woods, they can think again. Neil Critchley's side remain in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership, and with only five home games to come before the split in April they need to extend their three-match unbeaten run to maintain prospects of a top-six spot.

And that starts at Pittodrie on Sunday when they face an Aberdeen team determined to end their own dismal run of form.

Just a few weeks ago the Dons looked nailed on for a third-place finish but are now ten without a win including five straight losses.

So as strange as this season has been, a win on Sunday would take Hearts to within eight points of Aberdeen and revive hopes of a European spot next season.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Back-to-back wins and two clean sheets, Neil Critchley's wish at the Hogmanay bells seems to have come true.

I believe you can make statistics suit any narrative you wish. Like Jamie McCart winning 100% of his aerial duals v Dundee United (who cares that he only played three minutes?). But every time there's been a form of protest recently, Hearts have responded by being victorious.

So you have to say fair play to Critchley and his side for blocking out the pre-match noise and responding coolly and professionally on the pitch.

We have now opened an eight-point gap over bottom club St Johnstone, and despite being 11th, we're only four points off St Mirren in sixth.

Suddenly the mood music around the fanbase has changed. There's even people looking to catch Dundee United and Aberdeen for third spot. Madness.

As fate would have it, we are playing one of the sides whose form has nosedived since Critchball rolled into Scottish football, Aberdeen.

Our record up there is terrible. You have to go back over eight-and-a-half years for our last win. However, there's some belief we can extend the Dons' current winless run to 11 games.

I'd bite your hand off at a point now, though. I've seen this movie far too many times, where teams are struggling for form, Hearts roll into town, and the opposition turn into the equivalent of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

McCart could make his first start and Belgian forward Elton Kabangu may feature but I hope we see the same starting 11 for the third consecutive match.

It's made a massive difference having a settled defence, while Jorge Grant and Liam Boyce have been great since coming into the team. Cynics will say their good form coincides with their contracts running down, but I think their experience has been what we've missed.

My predictions this season have been consistently wrong, so I'll try to continue that feat by saying that our winless record in the Granite City will continue…

Hearts fans, we asked what business you'd like to see the club do in January.

Here's what some of you said:

Sam: It's hard to see where to begin with Hearts. No player this season has really stood out as a steady, reliable player. Key positions to fill would be two strikers, attacking midfielders, and left and right-backs.

Jim: We need at least one dependable centre-back. At least two aggressive, attacking, creative midfielders and at least one attacking wide player and at least one striker assuming Lawrence Shankland remains and finds his form. We also need a new style of play, present style does not suit our current squad, so change it!

Anon: An intelligent midfielder. There is no point having strikers or other attackers up front if there is no one who can find the right way to get the ball to them. Having said that, there is definitely a need for some real strikers. James Wilson is doing the best he can, but he cannot do it all alone. There need to be multiple threats for one to get free.

Maca: It's clear Hearts need new players in several positions, a striker with pace who can score, two wide players with pace that can cross the ball and be able to track back. A midfielder to drive the side forward and dictate the games, a leader. Two centre-backs with pace that can defend crosses. Finally to build a side, surely Zander Clark should be number one.

Hearts midfielder Jorge Grant is unsure about his future at Tynecastle with his deal up at the end of the season (Edinburgh Evening News), external.

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip in full.

Craig Gordon: Had very little to do until the closing stages again, but the sign of a great goalkeeper is being able to suddenly pull off a vital save required to seal all three points. A big player for Hearts in the last two games as a bit of solidity starts to emerge throughout the team.

James Penrice: We always used to speak about Lawrence Shankland when we talked about Hearts. Now it's all about James Penrice. Again, magnificent down the left and at Tannadice he was also the match-winner.

Blair Spittal: Combined superbly with Penrice. A key player now for Hearts. Starting to look like the player who starred for Motherwell.

Hearts fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's victory over Dundee United.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jim: Well a win's a win but our defence isn't good enough to hold onto a one goal lead. Glad to hear a couple of new faces are on the books, it's been woeful so far this season. Too many players are hiding just now.

David: Though our goals scored to shots on goal ratio is still poor, at least we're starting to grind our results. Signings so far are, at least on paper, very decent. Interesting that Lawrence Shankland is out at this time and the cynics could say he will be away this month. A concern is a massively overblown squad which will need surgery now and in the summer.

Kevin: Heart's put in a hard shift and battled for a deserved win. I'll say it - we have been a better all-round team since Shankland got injured. All are playing well with special mention to James Penrice and James Wilson. Also Liam Boyce's contribution can be understated. Would have been three out of three if not for two minutes of madness in Dingwall.

Chris: Better. We still lack composure in front of goal but due to defending better, we are not being punished for it. I wouldn't say we have turned a corner yet, as our luck was due to even out at some point, but it's much better. Boyce must have thought his time was up with us but he's been a beacon that's got us ticking. We keep going!

Steve: Three valuable points, Craig Halkett and Penrice were outstanding, We competed but still created little. Boyce is definitely not the answer. Adam Forrester's distribution and crossing were poor. This league is so inconsistent, if we can regularly start scoring goals we can quickly get into the top six. We could still get into Europe, need to get Zander Clark re-signed.

Kevo: Bottle, guts, strength - qualities that were missing have reappeared and results will follow.

Watch as James Penrice's sweetly-struck volley silences Tannadice.

Hearts' standout player of the season, the left-back's winner at in-form Dundee United moves the Tynecastle side eight points clear of the foot of the table.

Match report: Dundee Utd 0-1 Hearts

Available to UK users only

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• Hearts are undefeated in their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 11 May 2024 to 3 August 2024, a run of four games.

• Hearts have scored in 17 of their 22 games, only Celtic (18) have scored goals in more matches in the Premiership this season.

• Hearts have scored in each of their last five games in the Premiership, scoring seven goals in that run.

Hearts get the better of Scottish Premiership rivals Dundee United at Tannadice (UK only).

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was on the verge of leaving Hearts for St Johnstone last season as he found himself in a back-up role behind Zander Clark, according to Ryan McGowan, who played for both clubs. (The Herald - subscription), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

James Penrice's sweet second-half strike gave Hearts victory over Dundee United at Tannadice as they won back-to-back Scottish Premiership games for the first time this season.

Hearts had the better chances in a scrappy and frenetic game, and Penrice made sure they eventually got their reward on 73 minutes when he smashed the ball past Jack Walton.

Let us know your thoughts on Hearts' performance.

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "I thought we were excellent, we edged the game and deserved to win. I would have liked to have taken more control. In the first half we got into good areas without producing the final bit.

"In the second half I would've liked to see us pass the ball a bit better and control the game with possession. But it's a moment of quality from Penners - a fantastic volley and great strike.

"We have to try to improve the quality all over the pitch. In the last little bit, the final third, in the last couple of games, with more composure and quality 1-0 becomes 2-0.

"It's the first time we've had back-to-back league wins which gives us a lift and keeps us moving in the direction we want to. It's very tight in the league and we have to keep performing the way we did today."

On Kye Rowles potentially leaving this month, Critchley said: "We've been approached by another club and negotiations are taking place. Nothing's agreed at this moment in time so he is still our player and will remain our player until the valuation is met."

Critchley adds he hope to have new forward signing Elton Kabangu available for the Aberdeen game.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Since the low point of an Edinburgh derby defeat on Boxing Day, Hearts have improved and the combination of Penrice and Spittal down the left has been the key.

Those two - Penrice in particular - have been the shining lights in a gloomy season so far for the Edinburgh club, and again at Tannadice they combined more than any Hearts players.

It resulted in the pair of them putting in 17 of Hearts' 22 crosses, and Spittal was unlucky not to see his audacious free kick from 30 yards drop under the bar before Penrice struck.

The goal was taken with such conviction - in stark contrast to Boyce's miscued shot in the build-up - and it perfectly illustrated the confidence with which the 26-year-old is playing as he causes havoc down the left-hand side with his direct play and fearless attitude.

Back-to-back wins to start 2025 is much-needed for Critchley, and with new signings Jamie McCart and Elton Kabangu already in the door, things are starting to look more positive at Tynecastle.