Hearts striker Steven Naismith concedes the scale of manager Craig Levein’s squad overhaul has left him with a headache as he struggles to remember his new team-mates’ names.
However, the Scotland internationalist, who sealed his season-long loan return from Norwich City yesterday, is adamant the lengthy list of fresh arrivals will transform Hearts into a force to be reckoned with in the Premiership this term.
The 31-year-old acknowledges that were times last season – Naismith 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 such as Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald were factors in the team becoming top-six also-rans.
Naismith is one of 11 arrivals this summer – and with Steven MacLean and Uche Ikpeazu also joining to enhance the numbers in an attack that includes Kyle Lafferty, Naismith is relishing the fight for a first team place.
“One thing I would say is there’s more competition for places up front now,” said Naismith.
“That goes for myself as well.
“I played in the forward positions and maybe went in to games last season knowing that you would be involved whereas this season it’s not so much of a shoo in.
“The manager’s been proactive with everything.
“Last season we didn’t have a lot of strikers. Bringing Steven MacLean in I think is a very shrewd bit of business.
“He’s an old head but he’s somebody who hasn’t relied on pace his whole career.
“He’s an intelligent player and was one that I think was an easy one for the manager.
“In midfield as well we’ve brought in a lot of bodies.
“We were very light in there come the end of the season.”
Gulf
Hearts finished some 24 points adrift of second place Aberdeen and 18 behind city rivals Hibs last season but Naismith insists the gulf will not be so vast this time.
He added: “The new guys seem hungry, they’re all keen to stamp their authority on what they can bring to the squad that will be good for us as a whole.
“It brings probably a more consistent level. These guys you tend to find are going to give you five performances out of six, seven, eight that will be of a level that’s acceptable.
“With youngsters and when I was young you’re up and down.
“That’s important, to start the season well, pick up some results and 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 probably a minimum requirement and that’s not saying we will challenge for the league or challenge 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 is going on off the pitch – we have to align the football with those ambitions.
“Playing against them we showed we can compete with them, but it’s the consistency and that’s what’s got to come.”
Names
Naismith’s has spent the last few days training with Hearts even though his loan deal was only officially agreed yesterday.
And he admits he is still trying to remember who all the new recruits are.
He added: “It’s been hard, there are that many new faces and you’re shaking so many hands that you forget names.
“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 they’re 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.”
