Robbie Neilson pinpoints the Hearts star who will be crucial to the team's tactical plans

Robbie Neilson confirmed the important part winger Josh Ginnelly will play this season for Hearts.

The on-loan Preston North End ace impressed in the first half of the 1-0 Betfred Cup win over Inverness CT at Tynecastle Park on Tuesday.

Ginnelly displayed his directness, pace and power. On a number of occasions the 23-year-old breezed or bulldozed his way into dangerous areas, creating shooting opportunities for himself or picking out team-mates with crisp crosses into the box.

“He did exactly what we wanted him to do,” Neilson said. “We’ll have a lot of possession this season, teams will camp in, teams will sit in. Inverness played a compact 4-1-4-1.

Robbie Neilson was happy with the role of Josh Ginnelly in the win over Inverness CT. Picture: SNS

"They let you have the ball at the back, shut everything off, so you have to have people that are going to get one v one and eliminate players and that’s what he does. And I felt in the first half we had all the joy down the right-hand side but didn’t get as much down the left.

"We tried to change it a wee bit with Roberts coming on and Naismith there but I would like to have pace in the wider areas on both sides and have a 10 [in the middle] rather than a double 10.

"I think it is important here in this league, especially at Tynecastle that you have players who will take people out of the game.”

Two 10s

With the club’s wide men set to play a key tactical role, Neilson hopes it will allow Jamie Walker and Steven Naismith to shine in the No.10 role.

“It’s a good problem to have to be honest with you when you have two quality players,” he said. “The likes of tonight we played with two of them in there trying to get through but because it was so compact we couldn’t quite get through so we moved Naismith and Walker out to try and get them into the game.

"If we can get them on the ball in that wee space there’s nobody better in Scottish football never mind the Championship. It’s just trying to find pockets for them to get in.

"Teams will, against us this season, pack that area out so we’ll have to find ways to get Ginnelly wide and round them and Naismith and Walker to get through them.”