First Man in
Levein signs Old Trafford kid Mitchell as he targets 2 more deals
CRAIG LEVEIN could be set to pitch Manchester United youngster Demetri Mitchell straight into the Hearts side for an Edinburgh derby baptism of fire.
The left-back is set to be the first of three signings the Jambos boss is keen to make before the Scottish Cup clash with Hibs on January 21.
Mitchell has played once for the Old Trafford first team against Crystal Palace last May.
And it looks like Hearts have beaten off competition from several English clubs to land the attacking 20-year-old.
As well as top-team experience at United, Mitchell has played for England at all age groups from Under-16 to Under-20 level, winning the Under-17 European Championship in 2014.
Sources in Holland claim Levein is set to offer a trial to Go Ahead Eagles striker Leon de Kogel.
But the Jambos gaffer also has other targets as he bids to fill the void left by Jamie Walker’s £300,000 switch to Wigan.
When asked if he expected Hearts to field some new signings in the derby Levein said: “Yes. A lot of things are up in the air but I’d hope to have a couple in, maybe three.
“It’s not so easy to find a player who is similar to Jamie but we do need a player who can help score goals and create chances.”
Hearts are heading to Valencia for a five-day winter training camp that will see them take on Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem and German side Nurnberg.
Levein is adamant any new recruits would have to be good enough to walk straight into the first team.
He said: “We’ve been linked with a lot of people – some accurate and some not so accurate. We are looking to add players and I’m in the process of trying to do that.”
Levein has a lengthy injury list with Prince Buaben, Arnaud Djoum, Michael Smith, Connor
We do need a player who can help score goals and create chances CRAIG LEVEIN
Randall, Lewis Moore, Rafal Grzelak and Krystian Nowak all missing the trip to Spain.
He has recalled kids Dario Zanatta, Harry Paton and Marcus Godinho from loan spells at Raith, Stenhousemuir and Berwick to head with the squad to Valencia.
And midfielder Andrew Irving will also make the journey despite extending his loan spell at Berwick until the end of the term.
But Levein wants to give his crocked stars every chance of proving their fitness for the derby.
The Jambos manager said: “I just want to use the Valencia trip to get the players back into the swing of things. We took on the two games and we have eight injuries so it looks a lot more difficult now.
“We’ve brought some of our loan players back. Some will travel to Spain with us so it will be useful to see them first hand.”
One player on the comeback trail is forgotten French midfielder Malaury Martin and Levein said: “We will see how he gets on.”
Hearts ended 2017 by sealing a new club record of six consecutive clean sheets.
Levein said: “Everybody has taken a lift from the record. There is a lot to be positive about.”