Mitchell marks Levein’s first move in bid for triple cup boost
● Young Manchester United left back joins on loan as derby showdown looms
Hearts manager Craig Levein has revealed he plans to have three new faces in place for the Scottish Cup tie against Edinburgh rivals Hibs at Tynecastle a week on Sunday.
He flew to Spain with his squad this morning for a fiveday winter training camp near Valencia after agreeing a loan deal for Manchester United left-back Demetri Mitchell last night. He is also in talks with Go Ahead Eagles about striker Leon de Kogel and wants a new attacking midfielder.
The fourth-round cup clash is the next fixture on the horizon and, while Hibs have signed goalkeeper Scott Bain and forward Jamie Maclaren, the only activity across the city since the transfer window opened had been Jamie Walker’s departure to Wigan Athletic.
Levein said: “We should have players in for the derby. There’s no point going over names just now because a lot of things are up in the air. I’d hope to have a couple in, maybe three.
“We don’t have any trialists organised at this moment but you can never rule anything out. The positions we need to strengthen are still the same. We aren’t bringing any young ones in for the future in this window, it needs to be people who can help us just now. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Hearts are not necessarily scouting for a Walker replica after selling the 24-yearold forward for £300,000 and Levein added: “We can’t get a cookie cutter and try to fit in a player who is exactly like the one who left. We do need a player who can help score goals and create chances. We need a player of that ilk.”
The Spanish trip includes closed-door friendlies against Dutch Eredivisie club Vitesse Arnhem tomorrow and German 2.Bundesliga side Nuremberg on Saturday. Both are at the Oliva Nova resort on the Costa Blanca.
Several young players travelled with the senior squad after Levein recalled them from loans at lower-division clubs. Forward Dario Zanatta is back from Raith Rovers, midfielder Harry Paton returns from Stenhousemuir and full-back Marcus Godinho’s stay at Berwick Rangers has also ended. Andy Irving’s loan at Berwick has been extended until the end of the season, but he is recalled for this trip. Levein will give all of them game time in Spain to compensate for injuries.
The manager detailed his plans for the camp. “I just want to get the players back into the swing of things,” he explained. “We took on the two games and we have eight injuries, so it looks a lot more difficult now than it was when we organised the trip. We are taking a lot of kids with us and that is just the way it is. The injured players are staying behind – Prince [Buaben], Arnaud [Djoum], Michael Smith, Connor Randall, Lewis Moore, [Krystian] Novak, [Rafal] Grzelak.
“I expect them all to have a chance of being ready for the Hibs game. I don’t want to take the chance of playing them in a match right now. They are all at the point where another week of recuperation will see that they are spot on.
“Malaury Martin is back from injury and we have a few experienced players with us.”
Martin, pictured, the French midfielder, has yet to make an appearance under Levein. He joined Hearts 12 months ago on a three-and-a-half-year contract but a ruptured groin muscle prevented him making any impact to date this season.
“He is fit and has been training for a little while. He was on the bench in Aberdeen and he will play over in Spain, so we will see how he gets on,” said Levein.
The winter transfer window is Levein’s first opportunity to reshape his squad but he must use the limited cash available to him wisely. His players set a record of six clean sheets in a row before the winter break, so defensively the only issue is recruiting a left-back. It is fair to say Levein’s stamp has been put on this Hearts team.
“As soon as you take over it is your team and you have to make the best out of what you have got. Everybody has a different take on how they want to play,” he said. “The defensive structure is something that I value highly. We ended the year well. Everybody has taken a bit of a lift from the cleansheet record.
“The challenge is to try to add other things. There is a lot to be positive about but I feel we can get better. If we can improve the quality going forward and keep the defensive side going, then it gives us a better chance of picking up more points.”