It has been far from an easy ride for Steven Naismith and his Hearts squad with several long-term injury concerns seeing the likes of Craig Gordon and Craig Halkett in the medical suite for near-on a year. To make matters worse, shortly after the season commenced, Barrie McKay and Nathaniel Atkinson joined them with the latter suffering an ankle injury against St Mirren.
While initially this may have been of less concern given the inclusion of fellow right-back Odel Offiah in the group, the Brighton loanee has been forced to return to his parent club amid ongoing health concerns and Naismith has admitted he is aware the January transfer window offers an opportunity to strengthen what has become a depleted position.
Speaking to Edinburgh News, the Hearts gaffer said: "We do need to strengthen the right-back position, especially with Odel's situation. We need to recruit in that department. In the forward areas, there is a bit we could potentially look at but it's not urgent."
While fans await to see who the Jambos could target in the upcoming transfer season, here are ten right-backs available in the pool of free agents that Hearts could snap up right away...
5. Simranjit Thandi - £300k
The 23-year-old former England youth international is still available on the free agent market after leaving AEK Larnaca earlier this summer. | Getty Images
6. Fran Karacic - £700k
Karacic is a 27-year-old Croatian-Australian who represents the Socceroos but was last playing for Brescia in Serie B, Italy. | Getty Images
7. Djavan Anderson - £275k
Anderson, 28, last played for Oxford United until leaving at the end of his contract in July 2023. He spent his youth career with Ajax and his a Suriname international. | Getty Images
8. Ali Kalla - £100k
Kalla has been without a club since leaving Angers SCO earlier this year. He is 25 and is of French and Cameroonian citizenship. | AFP via Getty Images