Why the Hearts No.9 shirt is vacant as Robbie Neilson discusses striker signing and Craig Wighton

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson reckons the No.9 jersey will lie without a suitor, at least until January.

The club released the season's squad numbers on Tuesday and with no one claiming No.9 it suggested to some that a new forward could arrive outwith the window.

Neilson, however, doused any speculation, explaining why no one has the number vacated by Conor Washington who moved to Charlton Athletic earlier this summer.

“I think Washington went and we said to Boycey [Liam Boyce] if he wanted it but he didn’t want it, he wanted 10," Neilson said.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson had his say on a potenital striker signing. Picture: SNS

“Number nine is just sitting there but you never know it might be something in January that’s appealing to somebody but at this moment in time there are no plans [for a new striker], I’m happy with what I’ve got.”

With Boyce on international duty Craig Wighton started as the team’s focal point in the 1-0 Betfred Cup win over Inverness CT and nearly scored, hitting the crossbar in the first half.

Neilson was pleased with his efforts but recognises the need for the striker to break his duck.

“I thought Wighton led the line well tonight, he stretched the game for us,” he said.

At times it can be a difficult position because when you are probably not involved in the game as much as you'd like to. He’s got a tendency to drop wide and to try and get on the ball. We’re trying to tell him to stay away and stretch it for us.

"He’s really bulked up over lockdown, good movement, good link, he just needs that goal to get himself going.”