Scott Fraser remembers the call coming through as he drove to Dundee. He had just undertaken his medical ahead of a loan move to Heart of Midlothian. The deal had hit a snag.

Just when the midfielder thought he was returning to Scotland his short-term future was up in limbo. Such is the life of a football during the transfer window. The clubs have to agree and the player has to agree. Those are the simple aspects but there are various moving parts while plates spin.

“It was done and then driving up to Dundee I got a phone call to say Charlton had said no," he said. "So it dragged on for two weeks after that.

“There were times when I was sitting up in Dundee wondering whether I should head back to London. So to get the phone call to say it was getting closer was a relief. I just tried to get everything I needed to do done as quickly as possible."

READ MORE: Why Scott Fraser can be a Hearts star and where he fits in Steven Naismith's XI

In Fraser's case, this wasn't a footballer wanting to move somewhere to get more game time. This was a father and partner wanting to return to Scotland for family reasons that are often an afterthought when supporters are caught up in the transfer window nonsense.

Hearts were a brilliant opportunity. The Tynecastle Park club have been admirers of the former Dundee United star, even before Steven Naismith took the head coach job. 

“There were a few other Scottish clubs but when a club like Hearts came in that’s what I wanted to do," Fraser said. “In terms of English clubs it was never something I wanted to do. If I was going to leave Charlton I wanted to come home. Thankfully we managed to agree that.

“There has been interest from Hearts a few times over the past 18 months. It was probably harder to do back then. But with my family situation with my daughter and missus not particularly enjoying being away from home I spoke to my agents about getting something back home.

“That was in early January and Scottish clubs would come up and as soon as Hearts came up I was: Can we get this done now? It dragged on a little longer than I would have wanted but I am here now."

Fraser is joining a club heading forwards as opposed to one battling relegation in the English third tier without a manager having sacked Michael Appleton. The 28-year-old is unsure if that was the reason for the holdup but revealed conversations with Appleton.

“The previous manager never said I had to go, he just said things were outwith his control," he said. “That was fine, it got me up the road quicker than I would have been otherwise, which was a bonus."

There is every chance he will make his debut in his home city on Saturday only a few hundred yards from Tannadice where he made a name for himself. And there will likely be Dundee-supporting pals in the home end at Dens Park waiting to give him stick. 

The way Naismith has spoken of Fraser, he could be set to play a big role in the remaining months of the season.

READ MORE: Steven Naismith Q&A: Fraser's Hearts role, striker depth, Shankland contract

"From the few days we've worked with him we can see his brain is ahead of the game, he sees the game at a much quicker pace than a lot which is a massive asset," the Hearts head coach said.

Fraser is capable of playing a variety of midfield roles, whether it is as a No.10, No.8, No.6 or wide. He was in the stands for the win over Dundee and pinpointed areas of the pitch where he could thrive.

“I was at the Dundee game when the lads did well to come back and win 3-2 and I was watching it thinking there were little areas and pockets where I could get on the ball," he said. “It was similar to the Aberdeen game last weekend. And in the two training sessions, I have seen where I fit into that."

READ MORE: Decisions in defence and where Alex Cochrane fits in - Predicted line-ups

The focus between now and the end of the season is playing games and impressing in the maroon and white with the hope of making his stay in Scotland a permanent one.

“If I could get up the road I would like to," he said. "I think if I told my missus in the summer we had to head back down she wouldn’t be too happy. But I am very respectful of Charlton as well because they were good to me and there are some good people there.

“From a personal point of view if something permanent could be done up here in Scotland I would look at that.