Predicting Derek McInnes' first Hearts XI - Forrest, new boys, system

It is a new look Hearts side entering a new era. There is a new man in the dugout in head coach Derek McInnes and there are six new recruits.

There are also a number of familiar faces throughout the spine of the team, including the returning Lawrence Shankland.

First up is a Premier Sports Cup clash with Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday evening.

Hearts will look to kick off their season in positive fashion, building both confidence and momentum in the League Cup before the league campaign begins at the start of August.

Including the Pars, Hearts face four games in 12 days. Trips to Hamilton Accies and Stirling Albion follow before completing the group stage at home to Dumbarton.

Writers Joel Sked and Craig Cairns predict what they think the starting XI will be...

Craig Cairns

A summer break, many new additions, a huge first-team squad and a new head coach make predicting Derek McInnes’ first proper starting XI a difficult task.

There may have been some clues in pre-season, however. A 4-4-2 shape was used for three of four halves in matches versus St Mirren and Crawley Town in Spain. The 8-0 win away to East Kilbride earlier this week saw a 4-3-3 formation used.

That would suggest that a back four will be used ahead of Zander Clark. Christian Borchgrevink and Harry Milne appear to be first in line for the full-back slots but with so much competition, McInnes has a difficult job on his hands picking just two or three this season.

Things have been made slightly easier for the start of the Premier Sports Cup with the suspension of Stuart Findlay and the injury of Jamie McCart. In their absence, Michael Steinwender, alongside one of either Craig Halkett or Frankie Kent, would give a nice balance.

(Image: Hearts Standard)

In midfield, given the physicality he adds, it will likely be Oisin McEntee alongside one other in a midfield pairing. Cammy Devlin and Beni Baningime are the two vying for the other slot and the latter has been paired with McEntee a few times in pre-season.

Further forward is where things get a little more difficult. It may not be what some fans want to hear, but Alan Forrest could well start on the right. A position that no one nailed down last season and that McInnes has prioritised in the transfer market.

On the other side, Alexandros Kyziridis could start even if he isn’t quite yet at the levels the Hearts boss wants and believes he can reach.

Up front, Lawrence Shankland will no doubt lead the line and wear the captain’s armband. Alongside who is less clear. James Wilson and Claudio Braga both had excellent pre-seasons, but Wilson will maybe just edge it.

McInnes has spoken in glowing terms about the teenager, who seems to have bulked up and kicked on from an impressive breakthrough season.

(4-4-2) Clark; Borchgrevink, Steinwender, Halkett, Milne; Forrest, McEntee, Baningime, Kyziridis; Wilson, Shankland.

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Joel Sked

Let's tackle the elephant in the room first. Alan Forrest. Mere mention that he could be in the starting XI later today has provoked derision amongst some Hearts fans.

Now, it's not the easiest line-up to pick with it being Derek McInnes' first, a couple of players out, new signings and the like. However, I do believe Forrest will be in the starting XI.

McInnes is likely to go with a 4-4-2 that has flexibility. So, at times it could be 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. With Alexandros Kyziridis only returning to training on Friday after a recent knock against Crawley Town, it's easy to see Forrest starting on the left of the midfield. A role the head coach views him as being more suited to than on the right.

I've said it a number of times, but Forrest is exactly the type of player managers like having as part of their squad. McInnes told the Evening News this week: “I love Alan's approach. He is the type of boy who, if you ask him to do something, he'll never complain. He will do whatever he needs to do.".

(Image: Hearts Standard)

With Hearts still to bring in the wingers McInnes desires, it opens up a spot for Forrest.

Due to the wide man situation, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Claudio Braga moved into a wider role. That could be on the left with Forrest on the right or vice versa. Braga is versatile, intelligent and has played there previously.

It is hard to see Lawrence Shankland playing the full 90 minutes, so Braga can easily shift back central when required.

Behind that front four, which is completed by James Wilson, it is somewhat more straightforward. There is a decision as to who plays alongside Oisin McEntee in the midfield but Beni Baningime arguably gives better balance. 

Zander Clark, Harry Milne and Craig Halkett are all likely starters. Does Michael Steinwender play at right-back or right centre-back?

Perhaps, but there doesn't appear to be a huge amount of quick threat from Dunfermline, so Frankie Kent and Christian Borchgrevink could take the final two spots.

(4-4-2) Clark; Borchgrevink, Kent, Halkett, Milne; Braga, McEntee, Baningime, Forrest; Wilson, Shankland.