Keeping McLaughlin has to be a top priority for Levein during window
WITH a clinical striker, reinforcements on the wings and an experienced left-back on Craig Levein’s January wishlist, weeks of wheeling and dealing lie ahead at Tynecastle. However, legendary Hearts goalkeeper Henry Smith reckons tying cleansheet king Jon McLaughlin to a new contract would be the best signing Levein could make.
No one knows the pressures of life between the sticks in Gorgie better than Smith, having made 645 appearances in 25 years for the capital club, and he reckons McLaughlin’s composure and quality has been the backbone to a remarkable defensive record. Their 0-0 draw against Aberdeen on December 30 was Hearts’ sixth successive shutout; the first time in their 143-year history that they have achieved that feat. It continued to a current nine-game unbeaten run.
The only down side, Smith knows, is that McLaughlin will be catching the eye of suitors north and south of the border, with his contract set to expire in the summer.
‘It would be a huge boost for everyone at Hearts if he was to sign on to a longer contract,’ said Smith.
‘From everyone I talk to at the club, he is fantastic around the place. His team-mates all like him, the coaching staff already see him as a key senior pro and the fans have taken to him.
‘He is a calming influence in the Hearts side and that’s reflected in this run of clean sheets.
‘He works really hard and isn’t shy to have his say during team talks and things like that, so it’s clear he is an important part of the group and you need big characters like that at a club the size of Hearts, with the pressures that go with that.
‘If you are playing well, then other clubs will come sniffing. I’m sure there will be many managers in Scotland and England thinking: “That’s a calm keeper that spreads confidence in the back four”. If you have a steady keeper that hardly makes any mistakes, that’s half the battle, so I’d imagine there will be interest.
‘Hopefully, he sees his future at Hearts and he can keep playing at this level because he has been a great signing.’
Smith is adamant McLaughlin’s influence is bringing out the best in those around him.
‘Jon has bags of experience down south, is a level-headed character and he exudes confidence to the defenders around him,’ added Smith.
‘You just need to look at how well Christophe (Berra) and John Souttar — who has been magnificent of late — are playing to see that. Belief always spreads from your goalkeeper through the team.’
With McLaughlin and Hearts’ miserly backline excelling, Smith believes the Tynecastle club have every chance of ending their derby pain when they face the city rivals in the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round on January 21. He just wishes Levein had a ‘Hammer of Hibs’ like John Robertson in his ranks.
‘We have to beat them again sometime,’ laughed Smith. ‘Although, as I keep telling all my cocky Hibs mates, they still have another 13 matches to go to beat my 22 derbies unbeaten in a row!
‘If you don’t lose goals, then you don’t lose games and Hearts never look likely to concede, so of course we’ve got a chance. That’s always been Craig Levein’s philosophy.
‘We just need that killer touch at the other end — a wee Robbo (John Robertson) character who will nick an ugly goal and turn these draws into wins.’
While dazzled by the displays of McLaughlin, Smith insists deposed Hearts stopper Jack Hamilton, 23, will not be the forgotten man for long.
The 23-year-old endured a challenging second half to the 2016/17 campaign as his form dipped and fans got on his back.
Smith said: ‘When Jack first came into the side, I thought: “He is going to follow in Craig Gordon’s footsteps”. Then his kicking went all over the place and the crowd got on his back.
‘As a young keeper, when the fans turn on you the confidence goes straight away.
‘That was the point he should have been brought out of the team. But (Ian Cathro) didn’t do that, he just kept putting him in the firing line again and again. That decision has cost Jack.
‘I’ve told him he is too good a goalkeeper to fade away just because of a bad six months. He’ll be back.’