Calem Nieuwenhof and Frankie Kent Hearts debuts rated as Steven Naismith's men survive tough Leeds test

In managerspeak, Hearts received a thorough examination by Leeds United. In more common chat, the Jambos got a bit of a chasing.

But regardless of how it’s framed, Steven Naismith and Frank McEvoy would have got plenty out of having to deal with an English Premier League side who just happen to be facing the new campaign in the Championship. It was a tough gig at times and Hearts had to hang tough. But the good news is they won’t need to take on this level of quality every week in the Premiership.

And another positive for glass-half-full Jambos, is their team are still very much a work in progress. Punters got their first look of new recruits Calem Nieuwenhof and Frankie Kent – and the pair of them were more than decent. It took a while for Aussie Nieuwenhof to get involved but any time he did he was neat and tidy in midfield.

Kent needed a hard hat but coped pretty well under constant pressure, even if he was a tad unlucky to be tangled up in the Leeds opener from Luke Ayling. Hearts still have rested Liam Boyce and Beni Baningime to come in and signings Kyosuke Tagwa from Tokyo FC and Costa Rican attacker Kenny Vargas are on the way.

Questions remain but the answers will need to wait as they wouldn’t be found here. It was just as well Leeds haven’t shaken off their problems in the final third that condemned them to relegation last season. They had enough chances to make it an awkward afternoon rather than an encouraging one for the home side.

It was clear from early on the Jambos were going to have their work cut out. Leeds rolled out some youngsters like Archie Gray – grandson and great nephew of Elland Road and Scotland legends Frank and Eddie – but they also included a chunk of eye-wateringly expensive Premier