Alan Forrest: Why new Hearts signing should be perfect foil for Tynecastle favourite

Classic centre-back partnerships conjure images of a composed, ball-player featuring alongside a rugged stopper. Midfielders who sit and midfielders who attack have evolved into their own specific positions, but for a long time were considered the best balance to have at the heart of a traditional 4-4-2. And then there’s the big-man-little-man partnerships up top.

Hearts often played with a two-striker system in the second half of the 2021/22 season after Ellis Simms joined in the January window and it was deemed both he and leading scorer Liam Boyce were too good not to have in the starting XI. But with the Everton striker returning to Goodison following the expiration of his loan, it feels safe to assume Robbie Neilson will look to remodel his squad around the 3-4-3 Hearts adopted for the majority of this past term.

The signing of Alan Forrest not only brings a bit of versatility with his ability to play anywhere across the front three or at wing-back, he should also, in theory, complete a smooth blend of abilities in the attacking triumvirate.

Forrest may play the same position as Barrie McKay, though either should be fine moving across to the other wing, they do so in a rather different manner. McKay is a creator. Forrest, while still showing off his innovative side to rank tenth for Expected Assists per 90 among all Scottish Premiership wingers last term (McKay was second), prefers to take it upon himself to find the route to goal.

He scored 11 times in his debut season as a top-flight player after moving from Ayr United and added another seven last time out. He’s adept at cutting in on to his stronger right foot and going for goal, ranking fourth among wingers for shots and eighth for goals per 90 minutes.

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