Hearts tell Olly Lee his future is secure at Tynecastle

Hearts midfielder Olly Lee has a future at Tynecastle.

Hearts have reassured midfielder Olly Lee that his future is secure at Tynecastle Park for the season ahead.

Talks between the Englishman and manager Robbie Neilson ended positively, with Lee told he is a useful member of the first-team squad.

The 29-year-old is entering the final year of a three-year contract and was uncertain about his prospects after being loaned to the English League One side Gillingham last summer.

He had a disagreement with former Hearts manager Craig Levein at the time, but Neilson has offered reassurance having admired Lee for several years.

As MK Dons manager, he often travelled 20 miles south to watch Luton Town at Kenilworth Road and took note of Lee’s performances in midfield.

The player joined Hearts in 2018 and is expected to feature regularly in the year ahead with Neilson now back in charge.

“I've seen a lot of Olly because I watched him quite a bit when he was at Luton and I was at MK Dons. We were only half an hour away so I was down watching Luton's games,” Neilson told the Evening News.

“When I saw Hearts had signed Olly a couple of years ago, I thought it was a very good signing having seen him at Luton.

“The way they played I thought would match how Hearts played. Luton's ground is not the same level of stadium as Tynecastle but it's the same type of atmosphere.

“Everyone is on top of you, it's very intense and it's 100-miles-an-hour football. So I think Tynecastle can suit Olly.

“I like him as a player. I think he's got good energy and a great work ethic. He takes the ball, moves the ball, gets forward and gets into the box.

“I've already had a chat with him. I’m looking forward to getting him back in and getting him involved.”

Lee managed 41 appearances and six goals for Hearts during his maiden season in Scotland in 2018/19. He endeared himself to fans with a winning goal against Hibs at Easter Road.

The loan move to Gillingham was fruitful, with manager Steve Evans revealing in April that he would jump at the chance to sign Lee permanently if he became available.

The midfielder impressed in Kent before coronavirus interrupted last season’s campaign. He scored six times in 34 appearances and became a hugely popular figure with supporters at the Priestfield Stadium.

He returned to Edinburgh unsure whether Daniel Stendel, Neilson’s immediate predecessor, wanted him but a chat with the new manager cleared the issue up.

After a full season in England, Lee informed Neilson that he was keen to re-establish himself with Hearts if there was a place for him.

“Olly just wants to come back and play for Hearts. I think he was really excited about coming here originally,” explained Neilson.

“He played a lot initially and then things changed and he ended up being loaned out. He wasn't playing as much as he wanted and it's important to get games when you're a player.

“If you aren't involved, you should want to fight for your place or go out on loan. So it’s good that he just wants to play here now and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

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