NOW OR NEVER

Naismith swithering on Stateside switch

STEVEN NAISMITH has lived the football dream for the last 15 years – now he’s weighing up a call to chase the American Dream.

The Hearts attacker is out of contract at the end of the summer and insists quitting Tynecastle for the MLS will be his hardest career decision.

Sporting Kansas City have expressed an interest in taking him Stateside.

But the 32-year-old former Rangers, Everton and Norwich ace is yet to make up his mind.

Naisy said: “I’m not actively looking to find a move to the MLS. It’s more that at this stage of my career I don’t think there’s going to be another opportunity.

“It’s whether you want it or not rather than ‘this club is in for me and I want to go’. That’s the decision I’ve got to make.

“I’d say it’s the toughest one I’ve had to make in my career. I don’t know what I want. “Like most of the moves I’ve made in my career, one day I’ll wake up and think, ‘That’s the right thing to do’ and I’ll pursue it.

‘I’ve not given myself a deadline but I’m realistic that I can’t drag it out too much. I’ll take as much time as I need.

“When you are younger it’s about money and playing at the highest level.

“That’s 90 per cent of a young player’s decision.

“As you get older things change and it’s more a case of, ‘Do I fancy that?’ It’s a case of knowing definitively that’s what I want to do.

“When I’ve had chats with the manager it’s clear Hearts are doing all they can. They can’t do much more.

“The manager has spoken about life after football and stuff like that so that’s all there. I just want to make sure I make the right decision.

“Every older player has said, ‘Play as long as you can’.

“It’s a mad business that one day you’ll wake up and won’t be able to do it again.

“For me it’s quite daunting to think of it that way but I know when I finish I’ll have options and will do something I’ll really enjoy.

“I’ve only been to the States on pre-season. It’s life experience.

“You look at young David Bates going to Germany and Ryan Gauld to Portugal. I admire that.

“Back in the day I wish maybe I’d done that but I’ve enjoyed every bit of my career and I do think, ‘Why would I not try it?’ That’s what I’m swaying with.

“The MLS is coming up and the league is growing. The family can also watch it on TV as well which makes it easier.”

Naisy admits international football could have some bearing on his final decision.

But he’s boosted by the fact there’s another Kansas recruit who is still regularly called up.

He said: “My ambitions with Scotland definitely come into it but there’s guys like Jonny Russell who have continued playing for Scotland.”