BUSY NEILSON BRINGS IN THREE
HEARTS completed a deadline-day treble to offset the £1.5million sale of top scorer Osman Sow — including the capture of a striker described as their ‘No 1 target’ by head coach Robbie Neilson.
As Sow headed east to super-rich Chinese club Henan Jianye, Neilson could celebrate three new arrivals — his first and only acquisitions of the January window.
Long-time target John Souttar was snapped up from Dundee United in a six-figure deal, while former Scotland midfielder Don Cowie (below) arrived declaring his intention to play himself into Sunday’s Scottish Cup super-derby against Hibs at Tynecastle.
But Neilson himself singled out Nigerian forward Abiola Dauda, who agreed terms on a six-month loan deal from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, as the pick of the bunch.
The Hearts boss, who also off-loaded Morgaro Gomis, Danny Swanson and Jordan McGhee on a busy day of ins and outs, backed the former Red Star Belgrade and Kalmar player to score plenty in the Scottish Premiership.
‘It’ s great to get Abiola signed up and he’s got a good pedigree,’ said Neilson of the 27-year-old.
‘ He was our No 1 target at the start of the month, we thought the deal wasn’t going to go through, but it was back on again and I’m delighted to get him.
‘He’s got pace, power and I’m sure he’ll score goals. The fans will see a top-quality player who has played at the top level in three European countries.’ Dauda, who has Swedish citizenship after spending four years with Kalmar, said last night: ‘It’s been a long day but this has been worth waiting for.
‘I spoke with Robbie Neilson on the phone and he told me he has followed me for quite a while now.
‘As a player, it is a dream to hear a coach say that. ‘Now I have to go on the pitch and show him he made the right decision.’
Teenage centre-half Souttar, who can also play in midfield, has endured a torrid time as part of a United side plummeting towards relegation. But Neilson believes the versatile youngster, who made his debut for t he Tannadice club at the age of just 16, can realise the potential that saw him mentioned in the same category as fellow prospects Ryan Gauld and Stuart Armstrong.
Cowie, meanwhile, cannot wait to get started after signing a two-and-a-half year deal with the Gorgie club.
The 32-year- old negotiated his release from Gary Caldwell’s Wigan Athletic last week and claims he is ‘fit and ready’ to make an instant impact.
Cowie, who won 10 caps for Scotland — eight of them under the management of Hearts director of football Craig Levein — said: ‘These are very exciting times at the club right now and I’m delighted to be a part of that.
‘I just felt everything was right for me. I could have stayed in England if I had chosen to, but I just thought about how exciting it is.
‘ There’s a lot of young players here and, hopefully, with my experience I can help them along their way and show the path for them.
‘Even though I was down south, looking from afar, it was clear to see last season there were a lot of good young players and they have stepped up to the Premiership this year very well.
‘Hopefully if I can aid them in any way possible, that will be great.
‘I’m ready, I’m fit and raring to go. I’ve had a wee glimpse to see what the upcoming fixtures are and it’s pretty interesting.
‘It’ s the derby on Sunday so, hopefully, I can get a good week’s training under my belt and, you never know, maybe appear on Sunday. ‘It’s a great club, it’s very exciting.
‘Aberdeen are the target, to try to catch them in second, and I have got every confidence with the squad we have that we can put a serious challenge down for that. ‘And then, going into next season, it’s very exciting and, hopefully, if Rangers and possibly even Hibs come up, that’s two massive clubs and it will be an exciting league and one that I’m really looking forward to.’ Neilson believes the experience of Cowie, who has played for Ross County, Inverness Caley Thistle, Watford and Cardiff City, will be ‘invaluable’ for his young team as they chase Aberdeen in the Premiership and eye Scottish Cup success, saying: ‘He’s played in the Scottish top flight before, so knows our game, and he’s played at the highest level down south and won a championship, so I know he’s a winner.
‘Having played in England, he’ll show the players here the level they’ll have to get to if they have aspirations to play down there themselves.
‘He’s a great capture and I’m certain he’ll prove to be great value for this club.’