Hearts Under-20s coach Jon Daly reckons Conor Sammon is the type of striker that can make an impact at Tynecastle.
The nine-times capped Republic of Ireland international is expected to complete a move to the Gorgie outfit having held contract negotiations with club following his release at Derby County.
Aberdeen have also been credited with an interest in the former Kilmarnock marksman but Hearts are thought to be confident of landing the 29-year-old.
Sammon (pictured) earned a £600,000 move to Wigan from Rugby Park in January 2011 after scoring 18 goals for Kilmarnock during the first half of the campaign.
He joined the Rams 18 months later but has spent the last two seasons on loan at Ipswich, Rotherham and Sheffield United.
Hearts have Juanma and Gavin Reilly has their only recognised strikers but Daly reckons fellow countryman Sammon would be a good addition.
He said: “I’ve not seen much of him recently but I thought he was excellent (at Kilmarnock).
“With the likes of Alexei Eremenko creating stuff, he was great.
“He looked like the type of player who would work for the team. He stuck chances away.
“That’s why he got his move to England in the January window. So hopefully he can have an impact like that if he comes.”
Osman Sow’s £1 million-plus move to China in February left a large void in the Hearts attack but Daly reckons 6ft 2in Sammon could play a similar role to the Swede.
Speaking at a Ladbrokes media event, he added: “I don’t see why he couldn’t fill the role Sow had. He has a good work rate.
“That’s the type Robbie likes. Conor looks like he has that but I have not seen him play for the last two years.
“He was a handful at Killie and if you get him the supply that every striker needs, he’ll do well.”
Daly, meanwhile, has backed new Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon to be a success at Tannadice after working with the 45-year-old at Raith Rovers during the first six months of last season.
Former United midfielder McKinnon guided Rovers to last term’s Championship play-offs and has been charged with leading the Tayside outfit straight back to the top-flight.
Daly added: “He does well with his recruitment and his man-management is really good, he seems to get the best out of players that he has.
“It was a relatively small squad at Raith and he was probably quite fortunate not to have any major injuries when he was there.
“You have to give him credit, he was very tactically-aware as well. He can see a game and see what needs to be changed.
“I remember a couple of games that there wasn’t a lot happening and he threw two strikers on and played four up front.
“He seems to have the knack of making the right changes at the right time and that’s being a good manager, I suppose.”
