Neil Critchley in Hearts transfer vow as boss admits Jambos can't waste January window with more signings expected

Neil Critchley insists Hearts can’t afford to hang about in the January transfer market - because they’re still MILES away from where he expects them to be.

The Tynecastle club have brought in Jamie McCart and Elton Kabangu already this month and are closing in on a deal for IFK Varnamo defender Michael Steinwender. Goalkeeper Zander Clark was tied down on a new two-year deal yesterday while Critchley is also keen to strengthen the forward areas with Kazakhstan wide man Islam Chesnokov on the radar.

Hearts have made good use of their new link-up with the Jamestown Analytics tool to identify targets and the manager knows he will be judged on his recruitment. And he knows he can’t afford to waste time with just two weeks left of the window.

Critchley said: “Every window, every chance you get to try and strengthen the squad and improve the squad is vitally important. You can't waste that time. You can't miss out on a window. You've got to keep moving forward. You've got to get it right.

“Are you going to get every signing right? No. In the history of football, with every single manager at every club, if you look at signings, you're not going to get everyone right, but you've got to get the vast majority right. You're judged by the players that you bring in and ultimately they're the ones on the pitch that are going to win you games of football.

“We want to try and bring players here that suit the way that we want to play. That have the personality of the players that are identifiable to the supporters on the pitch. Hearts players, I call it. Do they have Hearts character? That's really important. So far, I think we've done that and hopefully we've still got the opportunity to improve our squad further.”

Hearts have come out