Heart of Midlothian entered the January transfer window with some work to do.
On the field as well as off it. A Boxing Day defeat at home to their city rivals was followed by a spectacular injury-time collapse in Dingwall to see out a wretched end to 2024.
A protest was then arranged by some outside Tynecastle Park for the win over Motherwell.
Those results themselves had followed a low point in head coach Neil Critchley’s time so far. Not long before that, Hearts suffered defeat to a Kilmarnock team playing with 10 men for almost 90 minutes and exited the Conference League after failing to overcome Moldovans Petrocub.
No one would know it at the time, but a new Hearts would emerge in the new year and go on to have an unbeaten January – turning the conversation from a relegation battle to something more ambitious.
And they did so while quietly carrying out one of the better January transfer windows in recent times.
Key areas prioritised
It wasn’t perfect, January windows rarely are unless everything is going well.
In terms of key areas that needed to be addressed, something was missing in attack while injuries to Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley left a shortage at centre-back. That was even with a bloated squad.
Work was done ahead of the window to identify Elton Kabangu and Jamie McCart and both were added within days.
Their contribution is there for all to see. It is still early days but both have exceeded expectations so far. Both are an upgrade on what was there before – although even that caused its issues and is something the club deserves credit for managing so well.
It was long touted that Kye Rowles could leave during the window, while Liam Boyce was part of a group that didn’t have a long-term future at Hearts and was used sparingly at best.
After being on the fringes of the squad, Boyce came in for the injured Lawrence Shankland for the draw at Ross County and instantly struck up a relationship with James Wilson over the next three games.
The Northern Irishman couldn’t be begrudged jumping at the opportunity to return to his homeland with Derry City but the timing ahead of the trip to Pittodrie was awkward Jorge Grant awkwardly filled the role. Kabangu was named as a substitute shortly after being cleared to play.
Going into that afternoon in Aberdeen, Hearts fans would likely have preferred the continuity of Rowles over the unknown of McCart at that point.
They (and we) could not have been more wrong as the 27-year-old has been a huge part of the best defensive run of the season so far.
Michael Steinwender made his debut at the weekend, but McCart's form has relieved any pressure to rush the Austrian. As has Lewis Neilson’s return from his loan at St Johnstone. It means that there is now enough cover in central defence and his performance at Dens Park suggests that he could be a dependable option.
If you were being greedy, a winger would possibly be next on the list of priorities and the club did make moves to address that area. But they weren't going to rush into a deal they weren't totally comfortable with. And it will be an area that is looked at in the summer.
At the closing of the window, Hearts at least have plenty of options for the right side of midfield, even if no one has made it their own this season.
Which brings us to Sander Kartum, who could be the next to be tried in that position.
At various points in the season, and under Critchley, Alan Forrest, Yan Dhanda, Musa Drammeh, Kenneth Vargas, Jorge Grant and Yutaro Oda have all played on the right. There have been varying degrees of success and failure within that group.
If Kartum can show similar early promise to that of Kabangu and McCart, he will be the missing piece in an attack that is improving with each passing week.
Trust the process
Remarkably, there has been some outright cynicism as the signings have been announced – though, it has to be said, mainly from those not of a Hearts persuasion.
Some questioned the merits of the Jamestown hook-up after the ‘find’ of Kabangu on loan from another club associated with Tony Bloom.
The age of McCart, at 27, was also questioned. Similarly with Kartum who is 29 and Harry Milne who is 28.
There is a misconception that, with the involvement of Jamestown Analytics, every signing will be someone from a league with untapped talent or a South American wonderkid.
The reality is that while there is an aim to consistently unearth talent that one day makes a profit, there are still games to be won while doing so and that requires experienced players, some of which ‘know the league’.
Yes, there will be players who are projects – rough diamonds to polish and sell on to someone higher up the food chain – but there are those that will be signed with the aim of being part of a longer-term project.
The case of Milne is slightly different. There is a palpable worry among the Hearts support whenever James Penrice receives treatment and it has been happening increasingly recently such is his all-action, all-or-nothing style.
That is no wonder given the amount of football he has played and the amount he puts into playing his football.
He is also close to another suspension and, one way or another, Hearts needed someone to relieve the burden. Back-up was needed and the 18-month deal to bring in Milne suggests just that.
The Aberdeen native has had a steady rise within Scottish football and is well thought of among lower-league fans. Many believe he earned a move to the Scottish Premiership before now.
Yes, on paper, signing someone who, in the not-too-distant past, was working behind a bar and winning the Highland League with Cove Rangers is unfashionable. But the signing ticks a lot of boxes. And Brighton didn’t exactly always sign gems from European backwaters and East Asia during their rise.
Given how this window has panned out so far, Hearts fans should trust the process – and most appear to be doing just that.
That goes for the outgoings. Rowles and Boyce left at risky times but both have been upgraded on – in the case of Rowles, for a profit, even if some were unhappy with the reported fee.
Daniel Oyegoke could be a miss between now and the end of the season, but the offer was just too good to turn down. Similarly with Malachi Boateng. The midfielder had dropped out of the picture recently and if he isn’t in the long-term plans and an offer arises that suits all parties, it seems the sensible thing to do.
Barring a midfield injury crisis, Hearts should be able to cope without a player who has been used sparingly as a substitute recently.
Again, it is about trusting the process. Winning football matches, of course, helps and it should be noted that Hearts remain in a position where a couple of poor results could drag them back into danger.
As it stands Hearts have exited the January transfer window with a stronger squad than they entered while improving results and performances on the pitch.
