Why Hearts have to be aware of Dundee's Osman Sow - the Championship's in-form star

Osman Sow has hit six goals in the last three games for Dundee. Picture: SNS

He joined team-mate Liam Boyce on the tally but one below the league’s top scorers.

Two players lead the race for the golden boot with Dunfermline Athletic’s Declan McManus firing six in ten. The other player is a familiar name to Hearts fans and someone who has previous in the division, netting 11 in 2014/15 – one of four players to reach that number for the club that campaign.

Osman Sow has been the form player in the Championship across the festive period and Hearts come up against him tonight.

Prior to December, he had scored just twice since the start of 2018. Across the past three matches he has trebled that tally to help Dundee record seven points and rise to third in the league.

Tough few years

Since leaving Hearts back in 2016 for a lucrative switch to China, the Swede has had a somewhat nomadic career. He’s never found a place to call home and as such hasn’t been able to produce the kind of form which propelled him to become a fans favourite at Tynecastle.

Speaking back in October ahead of the league opener between Hearts and Dundee in Gorgie, Robbie Neilson explained a reason for some of the difficulties.

"I know Osman really well and I'm really friendly with him,” he said. “I had him at Hearts, MK Dons then back at Dundee United.

"He's had a difficult few years the big man, with injuries and snapped his Achilles. He's managed to get himself back fit.

"He's a top boy and after tonight, I hope he gets some game time and scores a lot of goals, but it's just good to see him back enjoying himself again."

Until recent weeks, there will have been many with the belief that injuries have had such an impact that it was difficult seeing the player getting back to his best.

Despite Sow turning out for a rival there is still plenty of goodwill towards the 30-year-old amongst the Hearts support. Goodwill which of course will be put to the side for 90 minutes.

Goalscorer instinct

What fans will likely see is a player who is slightly different to the one who impressed at Tynecastle. None of his six goals have been what you would term special or individualistic.

He has provided Dundee with a goalscorer's instinct and an intelligence of reading the game and being in the right place at the right time. Twice he has run off an opponent to tap home. He has netted two excellent headers. Made a nice run to get on to a through ball and score v Alloa. The other was bundling in a loose ball.

His fitness is continuing to improve, while he has more legs around him meaning he doesn’t have to constantly graft.

“He has that inner steel and you need that but he has so much ability,” former Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton said.

“He also works his sock offs every day to better himself. He is a top, top player and hopefully he can help us get back to where we all want to be in the Premiership.”

The Hearts backline will have to be aware.