The future Hearts starting XI with a punch as new transfer arrivals set tone for the rapid improvement fans crave

After a nightmare festive period, things are looking up for Hearts.

They're taking baby steps and Neil Critchley (along with his players) still has plenty of work to do in order to convince the doubters he's the right man to steer the Jambos out of choppy Premiership waters and sail into the top six this season, with a European place still a dot on the horizon given the season they've endured.

But he's now starting to get his own players, or at least deciding which of the Jamestown Analytics ranked options he feels suit him best. The 'January is a difficult mnoth to do business' cliche especially applies to those languishing in the lower reaches of the league table and despite seven points out of nine, the capital club are still sitting in the relegation playoff position. They frankly need a good window and the proof will be in the points they manage to add in order to start moving upwards.

An initial improvement was followed by a but of a nightmare run for Critchley, and the key will be sustaining their recent improvement. Goals are a big issue, as even when Hearts have played well, they've struggled to take chances and often been punished.

Lawrence Shankland's December double at home to Dundee proved to be a false dawn and the No.9 still hasn't produced nearly enough in terms of goals. He's out with a shoulder injury and teenager prospect James Wilson has been showing him how it's done.

How Hearts could line-up

Hearts' hopes can't be heaped on the 17-year old's shoulders though, so the news new Belgian recruit Elton Kabangu has been granted a UK work permit is welcome. Critchley's men have put in a ridiculous number of crosses this season with little to show for it, and the stats suggest that getting on the end of