Hearts transfer update as Jambos trialist earns Robbie Neilson approval ahead of two friendlies

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson has been left impressed by trialist Joe Wright after he got the chance to display his skills in a friendly against East Fife.

The centre-back has spent the last year out injured following his departure from Doncaster Rovers. He had agreed to join the Tynecastle club last year before a horror ankle and knee injury shelved that transfer. Wright didn't play in the 2020/21 campaign but has linked up with Hearts ahead of 21/22 in an attempt to win a permanent stay.

He netted one of the seven goals in the 7-0 win over East Fife and Neilson will hand him further friendly opportunities against Spartans tonight and Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday. The manager told the Edinburgh Evening News : “I liked what I saw, so he needs to keep that up. He'll keep playing and training. We've got a game on Wednesday night. He'll be involved in that a little bit and then there's the game on Saturday, so we'll see how he does.

"We spoke to him a while ago and obviously he got quite a bad injury and was in rehab. He's just coming back.

“So he's come up and we're having a look at him. He'll be involved in these next few games and then we'll make a decision.”

Signing Wright would be Hearts' latest summer recruit after Lewis Neilson, Alan Forrest, Alex Cochrane, Kye Rowles and Jorge Grant.