Steven Naismith is hopeful that Scott Fraser will be a Heart of Midlothian player by the time the January transfer window slams shut – but the head coach admits that the ball is in Charlton Athletic’s court.

Fraser travelled north to agree terms on a loan deal until the end of the season earlier this week and was in attendance for Tuesday night’s 3-2 win over Dundee at Tynecastle Park, but the move was delayed due to paperwork.

Michael Appleton, the Charlton manager, was then relieved of his duties this week – throwing a spanner into the works – but Naismith remains confident about getting his man. Patience, the former Scotland internationalist stressed, is key.

READ MORE: Why new Hearts deal for Craig Halkett is a no-brainer

“Circumstances on Charlton’s end are what they are,” Naismith told Hearts TV. “Obviously they are in the process of changing their manager, which isn’t straightforward.

“For us, he is somebody – and I want to stress this – he isn’t a knee-jerk reaction, he is somebody that we have monitored and had interest in. There seems to be an opportunity to get a deal done, so we will take the time that we need to get the deal done this window.

“When a new manager comes in, he will have conversations and see where everybody’s head is at and what the situation is. We will take it from there.

“It’s always tough for players in these situations, but the flip-side of it is that he has a contract and there is a club that have negotiated a good contract with him, and who he is employed by.

“From personal experience these situations are tough but one of the characteristics we really like about him is his experience, his professionalism and his will to improve. So I think he is experienced enough to understand what he has got to do and to keep himself ready for all eventualities that may come in the next week.

“The end-point will be when the window closes. I think both clubs have been honest and straightforward with each other – the process is the process – but as I’ve said, we’re not trying to react to bring players in. We are only bringing players in that we expect can improve us. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Naismith was then asked if he had any other plans to enter the market to aid Hearts’ push for third.

READ MORE: Calem Nieuwenhof gives honest first six months Hearts assessment

“We’re not really looking for anyone else,” he explained. “We are not in desperate need. The big one for us was the right-back position – and from how we worked, we got that one done early. Everything else is longer-term, bigger picture, what can improve us.

“The only caveat to that will be if there are people who don’t want to be there and are looking to move. Whether that means we need to replace them or it means we have to do without, we will take that as it comes. But at the moment I don’t expect much to happen.”