Keeper ‘likely’ to be on his way

Although nothing is set in stone, Hearts goalkeeper Jon Mclaughlin admits he is “likely” to depart the club in the summer.

Mclaughlin joined the Jambos on a one-year deal from Burton last summer but has yet to sign a new contract, despite the club’s desire to keep hold of him.

It has been a successful campaign for the shot-stopper, who has been part of the second best defence in the Premiership and earned his first call-up to the Scotland squad last month, which has drawn attention from clubs in England.

Manager Craig Levein admitted on Wednesday his keeper was set to depart the club, but despite saying he is likely to leave the club when his contract is up, Mclaughlin insists nothing has been decided.

“We still don’t know what we are doing beyond this,” the 30-year-old said. “There has been a lot of talk and it looks likely that we might move on, but we still haven’t sorted anything and nothing is set in stone.

“Whatever happens, we are grateful for the opportunity and it’s been fantastic and so much has come from it, like being involved with the Scotland set-up.”

Mclaughlin is likely to move back to England, where he had played the whole of his career with Bradford and Burton before moving to Edinburgh, admitting the standard of English football was almost too much to resist.

He said: “It’s not so much the fact I’m dying to go back to England or anything like that, it’s just the way of the world that the standard of English football and everything that is involved in that, it is a draw for players.”