Hearts: Five players to watch in 2021

Peter Haring

Robbie Neilson said at the start of the season that when it comes to the Austrian midfielder he would be eased back into the team. There’d be some games where he is rested, others a sub and there’d be those he would start. A sensible move considering he missed the entirety of the 2019/20 campaign.

2021 could be a much bigger year for Peter Haring. There is no doubting his talent and importance to Hearts at the base of the midfield. It is surely only a matter of time before he is back to his best and taken on even more responsibility in the team.

John Souttar

Next year is set to be another big one for the talented centre-back. The 24-year-old will make a comeback in 2021 following not one but two serious Achilles injuries in 2020. All going well with his rehabilitation he could be seen before the season ends. But realistically Robbie Neilson will be trying to make sure he is involved from the first day of pre-season.

There is a huge degree of sympathy for Souttar who has gone through injury hell, thwarting his progress as one of the most promising defenders the country has produced in recent years. The player, management and fans will be hoping he can return to the levels he has shown since moving to Tynecastle.

Josh Ginnelly

The winger may have only played six times for the club but he has already made a hugely positive impression on the club’s supporters. Quick, direct and a danger with his shooting from outside of the box. You would be hard pressed to find anyone against the club trying to make the loan from Preston permanent.

Ginnelly has added a different dimension to the team and is a genuinely exciting player who is almost a throwback and certainly the type of individual the team has missed in recent years. The 23-year-old’s Preston contract expires in the summer making Hearts prime contenders to get him on a long-term contract.

Andy Irving

Hearts play better with the 20-year-old in the middle of midfield. The three league games he has started so far this campaign have finished with an aggregate score of 14-3. He is a hugely enjoyable player for supporters to watch. He wants the ball and when he gets it he is wonderfully composed, has a great body shape to create space for himself and it is matched with vision and the talent to play a penetrative pass.

Out of contract in the summer, many will be keen for him to be tied down and perhaps in 2021 he can become the midfield lynchpin.

Harry Cochrane

The midfielder is someone fans may have expected to see this season in the Championship. However, he was moved on loan to Montrose in League One and it looks to be a good move for all parties. The 19-year-old is playing regular first-team football. He has started five of six games, winning four of them.

It looks like a positive move for his development. With his contract running out but talks of a new one, he could be ready for a Hearts return in the summer.

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