It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Tynecastle club. After a strong start, the weight of playing an additional eight games due to their involvement in European football took a heavy toll with a downturn in results. But once they were eliminated they were able to rally, establish a healthy lead in third, knock Hibs out of the Scottish Cup and looked on course again for another shot at group-stage football on the continent. However, their form suddenly took a drastic turn for the worse, Robbie Neilson was sacked and, with three games remaining, fans are praying there is one final sting in the tale.
As a result of this, and a ridiculous injury list which stopped the likes of Craig Halkett, Beni Baningime, Peter Haring and Liam Boyce from appearing in this list, it’s been difficult to properly collate a top 10 of the best individual player performances across the season. But this writer has given it his best shot.
5. Toby Sibbick
The biggest redemptive arc of the 2022/23 season, it’s fair to say. Sibbick did not have a great start to the campaign and became unplayable (not in a good way) for large periods in the autumn despite Hearts being desperate for fit centre-backs, such was his poor form and rock-bottom confidence. But he managed to build his way up again, got the fans back on side and has arguably been the best defender since Craig Halkett went down with a season-ending injury. His performance in the Scottish Cup win at Easter Road might be the single best by any Hearts player this campaign. Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group
6. Cammy Devlin
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster campaign for the ankle-biting Aussie. He started off superbly (speaking of top class performances; Devlin was incredible in the home leg against Zurich) but tailed a bit as Europe started to take his toll. He rebounded after the break, but again saw his form slip away as he struggled to build a solid partnership with Robert Snodgrass once things started going south. Two of his last three performances probably sum up his campaign. Excellent against County in the 6-1 win, he was lucky to see the second half in Saturday’s draw with St Mirren. Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group
7. Kye Rowles
It looked like Hearts had won a watch after they recruited the defender from Central Coast Mariners last summer. He looked a terrific signing in August. After spending a couple of months out with a broken metatarsal, he picked up where he left off, had a very good World Cup and then continued that form once he got home. This moved Hearts to give him a new five-and-a-half-year deal, though things haven’t been as rosey since. He’s still putting in great showings from time to time (away to Livingston; home to Celtic in the league defeat) but he has a habit of being bullied by physical strikers. If he can bulk up and improve on that side of his game the new contract should still end up being a decent bit of business. Photo: Mark Scates - SNS Group
8. Craig Gordon
Like Clark, missed half the season but still gets in this list. The club captain is lower down because, while he wasn’t bad before his leg break, he did take a step back from his awe-inspiring 2021/22 campaign, where he was deservedly awarded the Football Writers’ Player of the Year. That was perhaps down to playing through the summer due to international duty, and the expectation was he would return to his peak best before that unfortunate clash with Steven Fletcher. Photo: Mark Scates - SNS Group