Robbie Neilson reveals further Hearts transfer plans as he gives Cammy Devlin fitness update

Robbie Neilson insists he is happy with Hearts ' squad depth but still wants to add a trio of new faces during the transfer window.

The Jambos have a new number nine in Lawrence Shankland after they paid Beerschot an undisclosed fee to land the former Dundee United striker on a three-year deal this week. Kye Rowles, Lewis Neilson, Alex Cochrane, Jorge Grant and Alan Forrest have also joined as Neilson gears up for a European adventure.

The Tynecastle club kick-off their Premiership campaign at home to Ross County on July 30 with the continental action in the Europa League play-offs starting on on August 18. The capital club are guaranteed group stage football regardless of the result, with defeat seeing them drop into the group stages of the Europa Conference League That means they will have to cope with playing Thursday and Sunday on at least eight occasions between now and November.

Despite being relatively well stocked already, Neilson knows he needs to to bolster his options. Recent midweek friendlies away to Tranmere and Preston North End were arranged to get the players used to travelling then playing again in a short timeframe.

Neilson, whose team host Stoke City on Saturday in their final warm-up game following Wednesday’s 2-1 set-back in Preston, said: “The priority now is to try and get another centre half in, potentially another centre midfielder and then another number 10.

“We waited for Rowles and waited for Shankland, we’ve got a couple of targets we’re looking at but it might take a bit of time. I’m really happy with our squad at the moment, we can start the league campaign and we can be comfortable - we’ve got options in different areas. We just want to add a wee bit more to it again.”

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