Levein already searching for an

● Hearts manager is resigned to losing Mclaughlin in summer but won’t be drawn on news Mcgregor may be Rangers bound

having a steady goalkeeper with more than a decade’s worth of experience.

It has helped concentrate Levein’s mind when searching for a replacement. However, he would not be drawn on the latest news about Mcgregor, who seems set to sign a reported two-year deal at Rangers.

“I’ve said I’m looking to bring in a more senior goalkeeper, what that means we’ll have to wait and see,” said Levein.

“He’s been brilliant for us,” he added, with reference to Mclaughlin. “What he has helped with is that I know clearly that we need an experienced goalkeeper to handle the pressures of being a goalkeeper.

“Since he’s been in the team he’s brought a calmness and allows everybody in the stadium to feel like everything is fine and he’s in control. That’s clear in my head at this trip to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen.

“The injury is alright,” said Levein. “That’s healed. My only question is: ‘Has he done enough work to be ready to play 90 minutes?’ The balance of the team has been thrown back out of kilter without him. We’re playing right-footed players at left-back.

“I want to get him back in as quickly as possible. Whether that means Friday or not, we just have to see. Sometimes younger ones can find it more difficult getting back up to speed than an experienced player.”

Levein is aware of the disquiet among fans stemming from the side’s away form. Hearts have won just four times on the road this season in the league and only once since the turn of the year. The manager knows the problem pre-dates the current campaign.

“Go back ten seasons,” he said. “Other than the Championship season, our away record is pretty poor. That’s something I need to address for next season. Last season we only got three away wins. We have four so far this season and the maximum we can get now is six. We reached double figures in the Championship season so there’s room for improvement, which I quite like.”

Levein’s preparations ahead of next season have already begun in earnest. He confirmed talks are on-going with Inverness Caledonian Thistle about a swap deal involving the Highlands club’s midfielder Jake Mulraney and Angus Beith. Irishman Mulraney trained with Hearts earlier this season and Levein described the potential acquisition as a “project”.

He added: “It is quite a simple transaction. They are two boys who aren’t playing every week – we want one Robbo’s [John Robertson’s] got and he wants one we’ve got.

“It’s not a high-level transfer but I think he’s quite interesting. He’s got real pace, it’s about what we can do with it after that.”

Levein also stressed the chance Conor Sammon has to establish himself at Hearts. The striker is currently on loan at Partick Thistle, where he has scored nine goals.

“Liam Smith [at St Mirren] is in the same boat,” he said. “They’ve gone out on loan and done reasonably well and I think it makes sense to bring them back in for pre-season and have a look at them.” 0 Jon Mclaughlin has been a huge success since moving to Tynecastle but could soon be heading back down south. Barry Ferguson played with notable success under Dick Advocaat, Walter Smith and Alex Mcleish and he cannot imaginethosemanagersbeing willing to accept new signings being foisted upon them.

While Ferguson welcomes the prospect of former teammate Allan Mcgregor and Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield joining the club this summer, he struggles to name a top-drawer candidate for the Ibrox post – which Graeme Murty is expected to leave at the end of the season – who would accept that arrangement.

Mcgregor, 36, whose contract with Hull City expires at the end of the current campaign, and Arfield, 29, have