Kenneth Vargas to set Hearts racing but Steven Naismith urges patience over Costa Rican flying machine

Steven Naismith is confident speed machine Kenneth Vargas will get Hearts racing - even if the Costa Rican might not be ready to get off to a flier in Gorgie.

The striker has agreed a move to Tynecastle with the Jambos currently going through the exhaustive work permit and visa process before welcoming the 21-year-old on board. Naismith is hopeful that will be finalised sooner rather than later to confirm the CS Herediano frontman as the fifth new arrival of the summer hot on the heels of Japanese forward Kyosuke Tagawa.

Hearts have cast their recruitment net far and wide this summer and technical director Naismith reckons Vargas will add pace and goals to the Jambos frontline as well as bringing real value to the squad. But he’s also warned fans not to expect the South American to hit the ground running as he acclimates to his new surroundings more than 5000 miles from home.

Naismith said: “Kenneth is very direct, he's a goal threat and he's got pace. He is an exciting young player. This will be his first time playing in Europe so there will be time needed to make sure he is settled. But I think he can bring real value to the squad.”

Japan international Tagawa is in Edinburgh already and expected to be confirmed in the coming days. Unlike Vargas, the FC Tokyo forward will find a compatriot in the dressing room and Naismith hopes having Yutaro Oda in the building for the past eight months will help his latest new arrival settle.

He said: “Hopefully but we experienced it over the last two months of last season with Yutaro and getting our point across. We’ve got an interpreter we can lean on but Yutaro has been very good with learning his English and getting involved and embracing it so it will be the same.”

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