Naisy set for Jambos loan deal

FORMER Rangers striker Steven Naismith was in Edinburgh last night to finalise his loan move to Hearts.

The Norwich City forward has agreed to join the Tynecastle outfit until the end of the season, and travelled north of the border to meet manager Craig Levein and pore over the paperwork.

The 31-year-old will undergo a medical and, barring any unforeseen glitches, Hearts expect to announce Naismith’s arrival in the next 24 hours.

With striker Kyle Lafferty suspended for the next three matches and Jamie Walker having departed for Wigan, the Gorgie outfit are short of attacking options and Naismith is expected to go straight into the squad to face Hibs in Sunday’s Scottish Cup fourth round clash.

The former Kilmarnock, Rangers and Everton ace has fallen out of favour under Canaries boss Daniel Farke and has not featured since a Carabao Cup fixture against Charlton on August 22.

Nevertheless, with top-level pedigree and 45 caps for Scotland, his capture would represent a coup for the capital club.

Naismith, who played under Levein for Scotland, will be Hearts’ second signing of the January transfer window following the loan capture of Manchester United left-back Demetri Mitchell.

Levein remained tight-lipped when asked about his interest in Naismith during Hearts’ winter-training camp in Spain.

However, Norwich manager Farke confirmed earlier this week that Naismith was heading for the exit door.

He said: “The most important thing for him is to be back in a good shape and he scored for the Under-23s.

“He is searching for a new challenge. I expect that will be done in the next few days but it is not as close as the other lads.

“I mentioned many times Steven is a professional lad and it would not be a problem to stay here but he wants to move. He has made that clear.”