MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 07:46:27| >> :600:142759:142759:

Craig Levein calls an end to Hearts' January sales

Craig Levein calls an end to Hearts' January sales
© Reuters
Levein is happy with his squad.

Hearts manager Craig Levein is so comfortable with the strength of his squad after the winter break that he is finished in the January transfer market.

Czech striker David Vanecek and on-loan Leeds centre-back Conor Shaughnessy have arrived at Tynecastle while John Souttar could return from a hip injury in Sunday's William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Livingston.

Injuries to Souttar and fellow Scotland internationals Steven Naismith and Christophe Berra, along with a foot problem for Uche Ikpeazu, derailed Hearts' lightning start to the season.

But with Ikpeazu and Peter Haring due to be back from surgery inside three weeks and Hearts recalling the likes of Ryan Edwards, Bobby Burns, Malaury Martin and Aidan Keena from loan spells, Levein is confident his squad will not be so stretched in the coming months.

Levein said: "In general I'm feeling pretty good about the squad for the second half of the season.

"The outs are always a little bit out of our control but when everyone is fit I think we have a very strong squad.

"The problem is we have missed a lot of important players, and it's pleasing for me that everyone is coming back and there will be real competition for places.

"A wise man once said, and it wasn't me, that you are better looking at it than looking for it. We are better having too many than not enough.

"I felt at times in the first half of the season because of the injuries, and two or three happened in the same position, particularly the striking area, I didn't want to leave us in a position where that might be a possibility in the second half of the season.

"We would need to be hugely unlucky to get ourselves in a position where we suffered in the same way as we did at the tail end of the first half of the season."

Levein has already noticed a difference from his bigger squad.

"We have had two or three really good days' training," he said. "It's no coincidence that once you start getting people back, players look round and say 'wait a minute, there's more competition than previously'.

"And me cajoling people or having team talks that get people wound up, that stuff becomes a non-event, because they just look round at the competition and realise they have to up their games themselves. It makes my life a hell of a lot easier, and I'm all for that."

Meanwhile, defender Michael Smith has extended his contract until the summer of 2021.

The Northern Ireland international told Hearts TV: "It was an easy decision to make.

"As a player, I'm very happy here. I've been playing most weeks and playing well and I feel comfortable here. As a family as well, you know, we feel very settled in Edinburgh.

"The first time I ever came up here it took me by surprise how big the club was. Ever since then I've really enjoyed playing in front of these fans week in, week out. You also have the stadium and the training facilities, it's second to none really."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Gavin McCafferty, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'a48db9d0-e9af-4eab-bb2b-811f4550f39e');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Craig Levein calls an end to Hearts\u2019 January sales'});

ID:347206: cacheID:347206:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5562:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Conor Shaughnessy not in action for Leeds United on January 30, 2018
Read Next:
Hearts sign Conor Shaughnessy as Jimmy Dunne returns to Burnley
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1514104444043
2Aberdeen16104230181234
3RangersRangers1510232791832
4Motherwell168172226-425
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd166642519624
6St Mirren176382228-621
7Dundee165472729-219
8Hibernian173682129-815
9Ross County173681333-2015
10St Johnstone1742112032-1214
11Kilmarnock163581734-1714
12Hearts163491825-713


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!