January transfer window business has started early at Tynecastle

Sabah Kerjota is facing an increasing challenge at Hearts with the arrival of new winger Islam Chesnokov. However, head coach Derek McInnes is convinced that the Albanian is becoming more of an option as he adjusts to Scottish football. McInnes is confident Kerjota will continue to improve in the weeks and months ahead.

The 24-year-old arrived in Edinburgh in July after being identified playing in Italy’s Serie D with Sambenedettese. Switching from the Italian fourth tier to Scotland’s Premiership has been a significant change and Kerjota has taken time to adapt physically. So far, he has made 11 Hearts appearances, all as a substitute.

His biggest contribution to date is the cross for Craig Halkett’s late winning goal against Hibs in October’s Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle Park. He featured in Hearts’ last four matches but Chesnokov’s arrival brings fierce competition for the wide-right position. The Kazakhstan internationalist is expected to become a regular starter in maroon in the weeks ahead once he reaches peak fitness.

McInnes spoke to the Edinburgh News regarding Kerjota’s role and praised the player’s application and attitude. “Sabah is a talented boy,” he said. “He gives us that balance on that side of the pitch. By his own admission, he has been surprised by the physicality and training in Scottish football. He’s taken a bit of time in that sense, but I actually think he is getting a bit more confident with that and getting a bit more used to it. I think he becomes more of an option as the season goes on.

“What I wanted at the start was two wingers for either side. That’s what we hoped to get in the summer window and it never quite materialised. Having options and competition in these areas is important. Of course, Sabah still has work to do to go and play more regularly.”

Hearts’ new right-back Jordi Altena made his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Livingston, with Kerjota again a late substitute. McInnes explained that the winger copes with aggression well in training and joked that midfielder Cammy Devlin is often the one dishing it out.

“This league is demanding,” said McInnes. “It’s quite unique and there is a physicality to it. How we train is what we try to replicate in games. Sabah gets kicked from pillar to post a lot of the time in training. Normally, it’s Cammy who kicks him. Sabah has been a breath of fresh air. His appetite to improve and his appetite for work have been brilliant. He is such a good team-mate.

“On Saturday, with Jordi coming in, had we started Sabah then both of them would have been on the right and we would have been really small and lightweight on that side against one of the biggest teams in the league. We resisted that on Saturday but Sabah is feeling closer to it all. He’s feeling more connected to it all, he’s feeling part of it, and we feel that with him. He is such a good boy to work with. You see his quality at the right times. At the minute, he is giving us that bit of impact at certain times in games. The challenge for him is to go and start more matches.”