Why Robbie Neilson was desperate to keep Liam Boyce at Hearts amidst Premiership interest

There was plenty of sympathy for Liam Boyce last Friday night as Hearts huffed and puffed their way to a 1-1 draw with Queen of the South.

The Northern Irishman had scurried selflessly in attack in what was a slog in the final third, starved of service to demonstrate his striking skills.

As those around him failed to step up and dig the team out of a hole, it was left to Boyce to send down the rope and haul the team to the relative safety of a point which increased the club’s lead at the top of the Championship to 13 points ahead of Raith Rovers.

For those watching that evening, it was no surprise that it was the 29-year-old who won then confidently dispatched the late penalty.

Palmerston Park bears little resemblance to Gotham City, but the fixture with Queen of the South was one of those times where the striker was like Batman without the assistance of Robin, Alfred, Lucius Fox or even Catwoman. Instead, he had to play all four roles. Fending for himself, putting pressure on defenders, facilitating, linking play and ultimately the heroic act of scoring.

More support

“Last Friday, I felt for him a bit because we weren’t getting the support around him that he needed,” manager Robbie Neilson said.

“But he was still controlling it, dealing with it and getting into the box.

Robbie Neilson made it known to Ann Budge he wanted to keep Boyce. Picture: SNS

“So our job is to get more players in and around about him because when we do that he creates opportunities and scores goals.”

It's been 13 months since Boyce arrived at Tynecastle under Daniel Stendel. His impact was immediate, netting the winner in a 2-1 win over Rangers in front of a raucous and disbelieving Gorgie crowd.

That was followed by a goal in a 3-3 draw with St Johnstone the following game. But that was it for finding the back of the net and he started on the bench for that haunting defeat to St Mirren, what proved to be the final game of the 2019/20 season.

Premiership interest

Liam Boyce has been hugely important this season for Hearts. Picture: SNS

The future wasn’t only uncertain for the team during the April, May and the summer, but there was a certain amount of uncertainty regarding Boyce.

Neilson revealed the player was wanted by Premiership clubs but he made it one of his first acts as Hearts boss to try and ensure the striker stayed put to become a central figure in his new-look side.

He said: “One of the first things I said to Ann when I came in was: ‘Let’s make sure we keep Liam Boyce’ because with the club being demoted there were a number of clubs in the Premiership who were looking to take him.

“I thought it was very important we held on to our strongest players to give us a chance to get promoted again and we managed to do that.

Robbie Neilson takes Hearts to Queen of the South tonight. Picture: SNS

“Liam has been brilliant for us, he’s kicked on again since [Armand] Gnandulliet has come in.

“It’s important that there’s pressure on every player to perform, and I am looking forward to getting the two of them together up front.”

He added: “I think he wanted to stay, his family is settled here.

“But there were a number of clubs who wanted to take him either on loan or permanently and we had to bat that off.

“To get to the level we want to be at it’s important we keep our best players.”

Never in doubt

Boyce has had some doubters this season, albeit it small in number. Despite scoring from the penalty spot in the Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Hibs, he passed up a fine opportunity in normal time when the score was 1-1.

Played through by Steven Naismith he passed wide of Ofir Marciano’s goal. It wasn't just that he missed, but the manner in which he did so, missing the target by a couple of feet before slumping to the ground.

He went on a run of one goal from open play in seven appearances, which included a double penalty miss in a 3-0 home win over Alloa Athletic. After a cup loss to the same opponents Neilson was asked about the possibility of dropping the striker. It was a notion which was rightly batted away.

Boyce now has 12 goals in 17 appearances since the start of October.

“To be honest I haven’t been surprised with him at all," Neilson said ahead of this weekend’s clash with Greenock Morton.

“We create a lot of chances for him which allows him to score goals but I think what goes unnoticed is his link play.”

The out-ball and release

In the aforementioned win over Alloa. Boyce may have missed a penalty but he created a goal for Andy Halliday with a sublime pass. Dropping deep, collecting the ball, spinning and sliding a pass behind the defence.

He did similar against Queen of the South. Gary Mackay-Steven couldn’t quite get one under control, while Jamie Walker was on the verge of netting before a crucial block.

The more you watch Boyce, the more you recognise how much of an out-ball he is for his team-mates, a release, appreciating that he is much, much more than simply a goal scorer.

He isn’t towering, nor is he someone who looks overly athletic and powerful, but he uses his body so well to protect the ball, gaining leverage backing into a defender before rolling the opponent and moving the ball on.

Technically he is fantastic, able to kill a fizzing pass dead or caress it first time into the path of a team-mate.

There has been a difficult relationship between Hearts and strikers going back a number of years. Some shone brightly over a short period of time before moving on, others didn't consistently deliver, while others simply failed to reach the standard required.

In Boyce, Hearts have a striker who is reliable and creative, can score goals and occupy defenders. And he looks like being at Tynecastle for the foreseeable future.