Why Hearts' manager should build next season's team around Andy Irving

Andy Irving has become a key player for Hearts.

Whoever is Hearts manager next season must build the team around Andy Irving. His cultured mix of balance, passing range and imaginative left foot have become vital commodities in midfield regardless of who is in charge.

Manager Daniel Stendel certainly appreciates Irving's vision but major doubts surround the German's future. He has no contract at Tynecastle Park for next season as it stands. He may be persuaded to negotiate one, or another managerial search might ensue. Either way, Irving should be seen as a key player.

After 25 senior appearances last season before coronavirus struck, the 19-year-old faces stern competition to retain his central midfield spot. Harry Cochrane, Loic Damour, Olly Lee, Bobby Burns, Peter Haring, Sean Clare, and possibly Steven Naismith as he gets older, can all operate there.

None have the creativity and passing excellence possessed by the man some Hearts fans have nicknamed the ‘Portobello Pirlo’. That in itself is a sign of his popularity and progress over the last 12 months.

Those who coach him predict that the upward trajectory will only continue with age and more maturity. "I can see Andy growing in strength. He's got a fantastic left foot. In terms of seeing and executing passes, you would struggle to find any better," said Andy Kirk, the Hearts reserve coach.

"He is in the same sort of mould as Lewis Moore – they both have a fantastic attitude and will do whatever it takes to be footballers. Andy would be on the pitch all day and all night if he was allowed. He does everything to become better. He has physically developed over the last couple of years and he still has a bit of growing to do.

"Given his work ethic and how he has progressed, I can only see him getting better. If he has that run in the team every young player needs, I can definitely see Andy Irving becoming a really top player."

The supporters who frequent Tynecastle envisage the same scenario. "Our fans always get behind the young players and they can see the ability Andy has," added Kirk. "They can see his range of passing, how he moves about the pitch and the spaces he finds.

"Some of the passes he picks, you sometimes wonder how he's seen them. Some of that is natural, some of it he has worked really hard on. He is fantastic with the ball."

The ability to learn and absorb information is a crucial factor in any developing footballer. Aside from Irving's natural ability, he has had to adapt his game to maintain first-team involvement.

His mobility, awareness and physicality are better now than 18 or even 12 months ago. The willingness to improve in whatever way necessary stands him in good stead.

"I had Andy working every day with the under-20 squad and the reserve squad for a number of years," recalled Kirk. "Every day, we had an environment of always wanting to improve and get better. Andy bought into that.

"Every day he worked so that there was always something he could take away. That effort is what gets you to first-team level. Once you get there, it becomes harder again to stay there and hold down a place in the team. It's a credit to Andy that he has managed to do that.

"There are a number of others who could do the same from our youth squad, but the likes of Andy and Lewis have set the example. We are really pleased seeing them in there."

A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper. Our journalists are highly-trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper. Thank you. Joy Yates, Editorial Director.