Hearts set to clinch a loan deal for Mitchell

HEARTS are closing in on a loan deal for Manchester United left-back Demetri Mitchell — and boss Craig Levein hopes to add a further two new faces in time for the Scottish Cup derby against Hibernian. Former England youth international Mitchell (below), made his United debut against Crystal Palace last May and the 20-year-old is expected to sign a loan deal until the end of the season. Levein has also been linked with a move for Dutch striker Leon de Kogel, who is currently at Go Ahead Eagles. The former Scotland boss is also keeping his fingers crossed an extensive injury list will have eased in time for the January 21 fourth-round tie at Tynecastle after recalling three youngsters from loan spells to make up the numbers for the five-day training camp in Spain. Hearts were due to fly out to Alicante this morning, but were expected to be minus Arnaud Djoum, Michael Smith, Prince Buaben, Connor Randall, Lewis Moore, Krystian Novak and Rafa Grzelak. That has forced Levein to bring back Dario Zanatta, Harry Paton and Marcus Godinho from Raith Rovers, Stenhousemuir and Berwick Rangers respectively. Levein, whose side play friendlies against Vitesse Arnhem tomorrow and Nuremberg on Saturday, said: ‘I would hope to have a couple in, maybe three for the derby. 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 just now.’ Levein knows he faces a challenge in trying to source a like-for-like replacement to fill Jamie Walker’s boots after the influential midfielder joined Wigan on Monday in a £300,000 deal. ‘It is not so easy to find that kind of player,’ said Levein. ‘We can’t get a cookie cutter and try to fit in a player that is exactly like the one who left.’ Hearts will also run the rule over 18-year-old Rico Quitongo, son of former Tynecastle favourite Jose and younger brother of Morton forward Jai, while they are in Spain.