Josh Ginnelly stays at Hearts to continue injury rehab and signing talks

The winger is back running after surgery on a ruptured hamstring and is using the Edinburgh club’s facilities after spending the season there on loan.

He will be released by his parent club, Preston North End when his contract expires there at the end of next month. Hearts want to sign him permanently after securing promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

Ginnelly scored four times in ten appearances in Scotland last term before injury curtailed his progress. He is interested in moving to the Capital but first must finalise matters in England as his contract finishes.

It could therefore be several weeks before he is in a position to commit to Hearts, but all concerned are hopeful of an agreement as soon as possible.

“We are still talking to him,” the Tynecastle Park manager Robbie Neilson told the Evening News. “He's still a Preston player and that contract runs until the end of June, so we will continue speaking to him.

“He is back running at the moment, which is great. He is starting to build himself up and he is still up here using the facilities. We are more than happy for him to do that. It's one we'd like to do but ultimately it will come down to him and what he wants to do.”

In addition to Ginnelly, Hearts also hope to sign a new central defender and a creative midfield player for next season. They have already secured goalkeeper Ross Stewart from Livingston on a pre-contract agreement.

Josh Ginnelly is doing rehab work at Riccarton.

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