Loic Damour fighting to revive his Hearts career after deadline day exit attempts

Loic Damour's Hearts future is uncertain after manager Daniel Stendel admitted he could have left the club before Friday's transfer deadline.

The Frenchman is out of favour and has not played in any of Hearts' five games so far in 2020. Stendel signed Marcel Langer from Schalke 04 and Toby Sibbick on loan from Barnsley to strengthen his midfield, whilst Andy Irving's rapid progress has delighted the manager.

That leaves Damour, 29, on the fringes of the first-team squad. He arrived from Cardiff City last August on a four-year contract but Hearts were exploring the possibility of moving him on before the January transfer window closed at midnight on Friday.

"Both sides looked for a solution. At the end, he is still with Hearts," Stendel told the Evening News. "It is not so easy for him at the moment. He knows the chance to play is not so high but he is still at the club.

"When he trains well, he gets his chance. He has not played much in the last weeks and we have looked for other options, but he is part of the squad and everyone has the chance to play."

Damour has made 17 appearances in maroon so far this season, but started only three of the nine games since Stendel was appointed manager.