Jon McLaughlin refuses to rule out staying at Hearts

Jon McLaughlin thanks the Hearts support after the final match of the season... but could he be back? Picture: SNS Group

The 30-year-old, who is part of the Scotland squad travelling to face Peru and Mexico in a friendly double-header next week, signed a one-year deal with Hearts last summer but admits his future remains up in the air.

Speaking to the BBC, McLaughlin said: “At the moment, we certainly haven’t decided where we’re going next and we haven’t even decided that we are leaving Hearts.

“We’re still undecided, we still don’t know where the next chapter lies. I’m always open to talking to anybody who would be interested in having me as a goalkeeper at their club, so we just wait to see who we hear from.”

The former Bradford City and Burton Albion ‘keeper was one of Hearts’ stand-out performers over the campaign and, despite enjoying his first taste of the Scottish Premiership, McLaughlin is keen to play at the highest level he can.

“You always want to play as high as you possibly can, trying to mirror the standard you’re playing at and that you’ve been successful at here in Scotland. You certainly want to look for that similar sort of challenge again,” he added.

“I had a season with Burton Albion in the English Championship and that’s the sort of bar you want to set yourself.”

Hearts boss Craig Levein conceded earlier in the season that the club was unable to match offers from south of the Border, but while McLaughlin and the Tynecastle side haven’t reached an agreement over an extended stay, the Edinburgh-born goalkeeper insists that he hasn’t ruled out a new deal with the Jambos.

“Hearts have always made it clear that they’d be very keen for me to stay. We’ve had conversations, myself and the gaffer. So far, we haven’t come to an agreement.

“It would be great to have another experience somewhere else but equally, when you’ve had such success somewhere and really feel that you fit in at a club, that’s also a very important thing for a goalkeeper so I certainly wouldn’t dismiss still being at Hearts next season.”