Bristol Rovers set to sign ex-Hearts winger Sam Nicholson in the next 24 hours

Sam Nicholson is set to join Bristol Rovers.

Bristol Rovers are set to sign former Hearts winger Sam Nicholson in the next 24 hours.

The English League One club have agreed terms with the 25-year-old, who is a free agent after leaving the American side Colorado Rapids.

Despite interest from teams in England and Scotland, including his former employers at Tynecastle, Nicholson is poised to join up at the Memorial Stadium.

He ended a three-year stay in the USA earlier this month by terminating his deal with the Rapids to return to British football.

Several teams on both sides of the Border showed interest and the Scot held talks with Hearts manager Robbie Neilson about rejoining his formative club.

However, he is ready to continue his career in Bristol and begin his first venture into English football. Rovers view him as a signing who can help them push towards next season’s play-offs.

Under manager Ben Garner, they finished 14th in League One last season but are strengthening their squad considerably ahead of the new campaign.

Nicholson will become Rovers’ fourth signing in the last week following the arrivals of defenders Max Ehmer, Jack Baldwin and Josh Grant.

A graduate of the Hearts youth academy, Nicholson played in the first team at Tynecastle for four years before joining Minnesota United in summer 2017.

He was transferred to Colorado Rapids the following year and spent two years in Denver before terminating his contract by mutual consent.

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