Kye Rowles reveals latest on Nathaniel Atkinson and addresses Hearts' poor run of form

Kye Rowles has revealed the latest on teammate Nathaniel Atkinson's situation at Hearts as he admits 'it's a shame that he has been cast aside'.

The full-back has fallen out the picture at Tynecastle with Steven Naismith opting to recruit this summer and give his side a fresh look. It has been a difficult start for the men in maroon who lost out to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League play-off round, suffered a Premier Sports Cup upset at Falkirk and are yet to pick up a win in the Scottish Premiership with just one point on the board after four games.

Atkinson and Toby Sibbick were deemed surplus to requirements in Gorgie but while the latter secured an exit down south in the summer window, the Australia cap remains in limbo in the capital. Rowles has confessed his pal is working hard every single day and is just itching to play football and get his next chapter secured.

He told Edinburgh Evening News: “Look, he is fully fit. It’s a shame that he has been cast aside a bit at the club but he is in every day working hard. He is waiting for his opportunity, wherever that next chapter may be. I know he is itching to just play football and just get back here as soon as possible.”

Asked if the international break has come at a good time following Hearts' poor start with the pressure ramping up both on the players and boss Naismith in the capital, he explained: “Yes and no. You obviously want to make amends for the poor start. We’re just struggling to win games at the moment but hopefully that can change here, get that taste for winning again and hopefully take it back to the club.

“You just want to be in the best shape you can possibly be in for camp to be able to get as many minutes as possible - and show Arnie and the