Naismith knows new faces fit the bill at Tynecastle
HEARTS striker Steven Naismith concedes the scale of Craig Levein’s squad overhaul has left him with a headache as he struggles to remember the names of his new team-mates.
But the Scotland international, who sealed his season-long loan return from Norwich yesterday, is adamant the lengthy list of fresh arrivals will transform Hearts from Premiership also-rans into a force to be reckoned with.
Naismith, 31, acknowledges there were times last season — he scored four goals in 16 appearances on a temporary deal from the Canaries from January — when he felt there was not enough competition for a jersey, particularly in attack.
That, and a reliance on talented teenagers like Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald were factors in the team failing to spark.
Naismith is one of 11 arrivals this summer — and with Steven MacLean and Uche Ikpeazu enhancing the numbers in an attack including Kyle Lafferty, Naismith is now relishing the fight for a first-team place.
‘There is more competition for places up front now,’ he said. ‘That goes for myself, as well. You maybe went into games last season knowing you would be involved, whereas this season it’s not so much of a shoo-in.
‘The manager has been really proactive with everything.
‘Last season, we didn’t have a lot of strikers. Bringing Steven MacLean in is a very shrewd bit of business.
‘He’s an old head, but somebody who hasn’t relied on pace his whole career.
‘We have also brought in a lot of bodies in midfield. We were very light in there come the end of last season.’
Hearts finished 24 points adrift of second-placed Aberdeen and 18 behind rivals Hibs last season, but Naismith insists the gulf will not be so vast this time.
‘The new guys seem hungry, they’re all keen to stamp their authority on what they can bring to the squad,’ he said.
‘It brings a more consistent level. These guys you tend to find will give you five performances out of six, seven, eight that will be of a level that’s acceptable.
‘With youngsters, you’re up and down. It’s important to start the season well and build momentum.
‘The cups alone, you should be doing better in. In the league, when you look at the top four of five teams, we need to be in there.
‘That’s a minimum requirement and that’s not saying we will challenge for the league or for European spots, as last season it went to the last week in terms of who was finishing second.
‘We need to be in that pack, the size of the club and everything that’s going on off the pitch — we have to align the football with those ambitions.
‘We showed we can compete last season, but it’s the consistency that’s got to come.’
Naismith has spent the last few days training with Hearts even though his loan deal was only officially agreed yesterday.
He is still trying to remember who all the new recruits are.
‘It has been hard — there are so many new faces and you’re shaking so many hands that you forget names,’ he added.
‘But it was needed, there was a big gap in the squad and it was unfair on the young players.
‘On one hand, they’re buzzing because they’re in the squad and getting game-time, but, when you look at the bigger picture, it’s probably not as good for them because some of the results were bad and they were getting a hard time for not performing.
‘When I was that age, I found it tough, so it was needed and it’s a chance for them now to say: “I want to be part of this” and step up to the plate.’
Naismith’s move to Edinburgh has effectively ended a six-year stint in England that began when he moved to Everton from Rangers in 2012.
Reflecting on his time down south, Naismith, who moved to Norwich for a club record £8million in January 2016, said: ‘It was great. From one side, you make lifelong friends. And from the football sense, it was fantastic. I got so much more out of it than I expected.’