Former Hearts boss linked with transfer swoop for ex-Tynecastle striker as summer move could be on
The ex Hearts player is now at Portsmouth in the English Championship.
A former Hearts player could leave Portsmouth this summer - and join a side managed by an ex-Jambos gaffer.
Makenzie Kirk made the move to England at Fratton Park last year after a breakthrough with St Johnstone. The forward was in the Hearts academy and scored plentiful amounts but that didn’t translate to the first team. He spent time out on loan at Hamilton Accies before hitting form at St Johnstone and earning an English Championship chance.
Minutes faded in the second half of last season though and reports suggest a loan move could be in order this term. Barnsley in the division below are name-checked as an interested suitor as per reports, managed by Daniel Stendel, who was boss at Tynecastle between 2019-2020. The striker’s dad, Andy Kirk, was on Stendel’s coaching staff at Hearts with the German now said to be eyeing the forward who cost Portsmouth £500k.
How is Daniel Stendel getting on at Hearts
Fans in Gorgie didn’t get to see a full Stendel reign after he arrived in December 2019 with the goal of dragging Hearts away from Premiership relegation danger. Covid curtailed the season a few months later with the club bottom and a controversial demotion ensued while Stendel soon left his role. He’s now back at Oakwell, where he managed prior to Tynecastle, and first team coach Tom Harban says Stendel has made an intense comeback.
Harban told club media: “It’s been intense. The players are spending a long time on the grass every day and the manager is trying to change the mentality within the group to match what he wants. Anyone associated with Barnsley who remembers the manager’s previous spell here knows how his teams play and what to expect. We’re a little over two weeks into pre-season now and the players are gradually getting to grips with what he wants.
How does Daniel Stendel want his teams to play?
“Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we’ll start to see even more of that come through before the season starts. I’ve known Daniel since his previous time here. When I was working in the Academy, we mirrored what the first team were doing, so I already had a good understanding of how he wants his teams to look and play.
“The last few weeks have really been about building those relationships, understanding what he wants from us as staff and getting to know how he works. It’s been really positive and I’ve really enjoyed the start of pre-season. The aim is to get more minutes into more players and continue seeing improvements in what the manager wants from the team.”