Heart of Midlothian

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Macaulay Tait believes he can "make an impact" at Hearts, after making his first start for Steven Naismith's side in the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock.

The 18-year-old midfielder came off the bench in nine previous games this season before making his full debut at the weekend, and was pleased with his performance.

"I thought first half I had a bit of control and did well," Tait told BBC Scotland. "The second half was a bit scrappy and end to end so I had a bit less impact but I thought I did well in the game.

"I feel every opportunity I’ve had to play I've played well and today was my first start. It was a nice feeling and I think I can make an impact on the team."

Naismith praised the youngster's "calmness beyond his years" in the game, after handing him his full debut.

Tait said the Hearts manager has "helped massively" as he has tried to break into the starting lineup.

"It’s helped make it a much easier transition into the first team," Tait said. "I know that he knows what I can do and that helps me play a bit more freely.

"I know him personally and he helps me a lot so it’s been good to work with him.

"I’m really determined. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and it’s only starting. There are some really good players ahead of me so there is a lot of competition for places and everybody is working as hard as they can."

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts' 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Gez: This time last year it was a game where we would've folded, and the same in plenty of seasons before that. We didn't today though. We gutted it out. We got a point.

Euan: Flat performance yet again. Again, question marks about Steven Naismith leading this club going forward. That's six games at home this season against Hibs, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Ross County and zero wins. Not good enough. Not enough leaders on the pitch and when Lawrence Shankland doesn't perform the team look a bottom six team.

Kuptin: Kilmarnock looked good and a draw was a fair result. Hearts improved a lot when the subs came on. Great goal from Marley Watkins to be fair.

Alan: Four points from our remaining two fixtures before the break and we've all but got third spot tied up and a semi-final to look forward to as well. I wasn't pro-Naismith getting the gig, but didn't want him sacked when things weren't so good either - now I'd love to see him getting the contract extension he deserves. Great call by the board.

Steve: Dexter Lembikisa and Alex Cochrane are very poor full-backs - not good enough. Jorge Grant is also a pedestrian. We desperately need a right-back and Stephen Kingsley back at left-back. Great to see Barrie McKay back. The current midfield just don’t knit well together and Shankland needs support up front. Looking at today's line-up, never expected a win.

Chris: Looked good for 35 minutes then Killie always looked likely and couldn’t have complained if they had left with the win. Subs were badly needed to stop the inevitable goal they got, Naismith left it far too late as Macauley Tait was done by half-time. Rare off day for Shankland, was poor.

Jim: Played well against a good Kilmarnock team but once again the right-back position cost us we desperately - need a right-back. Surely we have one playing in the B team - we have struggled since Mikey Smith.

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Steven Naismith hopes Barrie McKay can put his injury woes behind him, with the playmaker making his return in the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock.

The 29-year-old made his first appearance in three months coming on as a late substitute.

“It has definitely been a frustrating season for him, he’s felt it,” said manager Naismith.

“He’s definitely shown that he’s frustrated. In the moments he was on (against Kilmarnock), you could see his intelligence and his quality.

“As the weeks go on, he’s only going to get better. We need to get him minutes, and get him involved because he’s a real threat for us.”

Naismith also praised 18-year-old midfielder Macaulay Tait, who made his first senior start in the draw.

“He’s a real quality player,” said Naismith. “You could look at his stature and think ‘Killie, a physical team, is he going to be able to handle it?’ But he’s robust, he’s happy to go into a tackle, he puts his body in when he needs to.

“But then he’s got a calmness beyond his years. He’s happy to take the ball under pressure and he doesn’t panic.

“It was a really good performance from him individually but it’s not a surprise to me.”

Dexter Lembikisa is open to extending his stay at Hearts beyond his current loan spell from Wolves. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith felt his side lacked sharpness in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Kilmarnock. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Players returning to training from international duty as late as Friday affected Hearts before Killie's visit, says Naismith. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: "It’s a hard one because the game’s after international [breaks] are the hardest to prepared for and the hardest for players to play in from my experience.

"A lot of our boys have travelled a lot, didn’t get back until Friday and you’re dealing with one day’s prep.

"I’m frustrated we didn’t win the game because when we go 1-0 up we had some good play to get us into the final third, but it’s just that last wee bit. That comes form the boys being away, an intense time with your international [team] and then coming back and that sharpness, it’s tought to do.

"Frustrated from that point of view and the goal is just a long ball and our overall our set-up could have been better but it’s a brilliant strike form Marley - you need to credit them for that.

"Everything considered I’m relatively pleased, you’re coming out today that noone’s gained ground on you, there’s a game less to play, so it’s positive for us than the other teams round about us."

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Did you take in the action at Tynecastle this afternoon or were you following along from elsehere?

We want your views on this afternoon's match.

Get in touch here.

Jack Herrall, BBC Sport Scotland

Hearts head coach Naismith had set his side up well with their midfield three often limiting Killie to long ball and forcing them wide but width has been key to their success this season with Armstrong and Kennedy allowed a fair bit of time on the ball.

Youngster Macaulay Tait was brave and keen in his first Hearts league start.

The hosts seem all-but-certain to finish third but when Shankland has a quieter afternoon, as he did today, their attack looks blunted and far less ominous.

A goal always helps but Vargas' play this afternoon was brilliant throughout.

Never afraid to apply himself and do some of the less-than-glamorous tracking back and pressing. He showed exactly why Hearts made his loan move permanement and handed him a five-year deal just this week.

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Heart of Midlothian: Clark, Kent, Kingsley, Baningime, Grant, Shankland, Forrest, Cochrane, Tait, Vargas, Lembikisa.

Substitutes: Gordon, Oda, Atkinson, Devlin, Rowles, McKay, Denholm, Fraser, Tagawa.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Wright, FIndlay, Deas, Kennedy, Armstrong, Polworth, Donnelly, Watkins, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Ndaba, McKenzie, Balagizi, Watson, Cameron, Stewart, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.

Follow to action live here.

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Calem Nieuwenhof says the "tight-knit" nature of the Hearts dressing room has helped him settle into life in Gorgie.

"The dressing room is really great," the Australian said. "Such great characters and there are really good personalities. Everyone gets along really well.

"I think everyone's got that really good personality where we have a laugh, but when it get serious, when know when to switch on and when to put our best foot forward.

"It's been really nice having the Aussie boys in the squad. They've been awesome to chat to and learn off. It's a really tight-knit bunch of lads"

The midfielder could make his return to the Hearts squad after an injury-lay, and is raring to get back out on the pitch.

"It's progressing really well. It's been three weeks and I'm back in training. I'll hopefully be on the bench this weekend.

"I was lucky in terms of the timing that I didn't miss too many games. For me, it's just about getting back on the pitch as soon as I can."

Steven Naismith says Heart of Midlothian signing three players from fellow top-flight clubs on pre-contract deals for next season is part of a desire to be "ahead of a the game and not reactive" in the transfer market. (Daily Record)

Naismith is using his former Everton manager David Moyes as his inspiration in terms of recruitment. (The Scotsman)

Read the rest of Saturday's gossip.

Frankie Kent and Calem Nieuwenhof are in contention to make their return from injury for Hearts. Liam Boyce is back running in training, while Peter Haring and Craig Halkett have undergone surgery.

Kyle Magennis and Brad Lyons remain unavailable for Kilmarnock but Lyons has resumed training.

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Steven Naismith says Hearts were too "reactive" in their recruitment during his playing days as he looks to be "ahead of the game" as head coach.

The Tynecastle club have already completed deals that will see Blair Spittal, Yan Dhanda and James Penrice arrive from Premiership opponents to Gorgie in the summer.

“I’m not going to talk about individual players (who have agreed pre-contracts), but one of the biggest things I took from when I was a player here was that the turnover of players each season, and when that happened, was so reactive," Naismith said.

“We can’t be reactive, we want to be ahead of the game. We want to be in a position where we know the areas within the next year to 18 months we might need to strengthen, whether it be for competition for places, because we feel somebody might move on, or somebody’s coming to the end.

“It’s never going to be perfect, it’s not been perfect, but we’ll do as much homework and research as we can to get the deals done.

“The two windows I’ve been involved in have taught us that the quicker you get players in, the more comfortable they get in their surroundings quicker, and they understand what you want from them. For signings, we want to do things as quickly as we can.”

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's meeting with Kilmarnock at Tynecastle on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• Pleased Hearts are "ahead of the game" in their recruitment for next season after agreeing pre-contracts with Blair Spittal, Yan Dhanda and James Penrice.

• During his playing days at Tynecastle, he says the clubs were too "reactive" in their recruitment strategies - something he's tried to change as head coach.

• His aim is to improve the players that are already part of the squad while adding quality in key areas efficiently.

• Kenneth Vargas "ticks every box" Hearts want in a signing, with the Costa Rican's five-year deal signed this week emphasising how much of a "big prospect" the 21-year-old is.

• Frankie Kent and Calem Nieuwenhof are both in contention to make their return from injury on Saturday. Liam Boyce is back running in training, while Peter Haring and Craig Halkett have both undergone surgery.

Lawrence Shankland drew both praise and criticism for his efforts in Scotland's 4-0 defeat by the Netherlands during the international break.

His overall performance was impressive, but the Hearts striker rattled the crossbar with a big chance when the Scots trailed 1-0 in Amsterdam.

Then, at Hampden, eyebrows were raised when Shankland was not brought off the bench sooner as Scotland toiled to a 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland before he was unable to capitalise on two good penalty box opportunities.

How does Shankland respond to all this? The only way he knows how - by hitting the back of the net you would imagine.

After 28 goals in 39 previous appearances, and nine in his last eight, the 28-year-old has gone four games for club and country without finding the net.

He has also not scored against Saturday's visitors, Kilmarnock, this season. What odds he rectifies all that at Tynecastle as third in the table eye a third consecutive win over the side now sitting fourth?

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David Martindale has tipped James Penrice to succeed at Hearts, and believes he is capable of going to “another level” beyond the Tynecastle club.

The Livi left-back has penned a pre-contract deal at Hearts and will join Steven Naismith's side in the summer.

“I can’t wait to get James Penrice back ready and playing for Livingston,” the Livi manager said. “I have got absolutely no qualms whatsoever about playing him.

“I think it’s a fantastic move for the lad. I sat James down three years ago and said ‘come to me, we’ll make you better, we’ll progress your career’, so when I found out Hearts were interested, I was delighted for him.”

Martindale joked that Livi are becoming a “feeder club” for the Tynecastle side, following a successful move by Craig Halkett and Alan Forrest in 2019 and 2022 respectively.

The Livi boss believes Penrice will follow in their footsteps and succeed after a move from Livingston to Hearts.

“James is more than capable of stepping up and dealing with it, I think James has got another level in him [beyond Hearts], I really do,” said Martindale.

“Sometimes players can underestimate the size of the job at Tynecastle, when you put that shirt on in front of those fans, it’s a big place to play football.

“It takes big players. I think it took Alan a wee while to settle but I think the staff and the fans can now see why Alan went to Hearts originally, he’s been brilliant for them.

“Robbie Neilson took him in originally and I think Naisy (Steven Naismith) has been very good for him, he’s kicked on this season.

“Craig Halkett took to Hearts like a duck to water. He had a difficult start to life at Hearts but he’s had the captain’s band a few times.

“When I look at the players that have left Livingston to go to Hearts, it does nothing but bring a smile to my face. I genuinely mean that. I’m disappointed I’m losing someone of James’ ability but I’m absolutely delighted for him.”

Heart of Midlothian striker Liam Boyce has a chance of playing before the end of the season as he continues his recovery from an operation to cure a tendon problem, head coach Steven Naismith has suggested. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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• No player has registered more assists in the Scottish Premiership this season than Kilmarnock’s Danny Armstrong (10 – level with Matt O’Riley) whilst the Scotsman has provided five assists following a carry of 5+ metres with the ball, the most of any player in the competition in 2023-24.

• Kilmarnock have scored 39 goals after 30 Premiership games this season, only netting more at this stage across their last 10 campaigns on one occasion (40 in 2017-18); meanwhile only Rangers (25 in a row) are currently on a longer scoring streak in the top-flight than Killie (12 in a row).

• Hearts are unbeaten in their last seven home league games (W5 D2), only going longer without defeat at Tynecastle since promotion back to the top-flight in 2021 once, avoiding defeat in their first eight home matches back in the competition. Only Celtic (36), Rangers (36) and Kilmarnock (31) have won more home points in the top-flight this season than Hearts (28).

• Kilmarnock have won just one of their five league matches against Hearts since the beginning of last season (D2 L2) whilst they’ve conceded first in three of those five games; the pair’s previous meeting at Tynecastle this season ended goalless, the only 0-0 draw between the two sides across their last 16 matchups.

• Hearts have one win and one draw against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League this season, last avoiding defeat in three separate meetings with Killie in the same top-flight season in 2015-16 under Robbie Neilson (W1 D2).

Hearts return to action following the international break by welcoming Kilmarnock to Tynecastle on Saturday.

Who should Steven Naismith include in his XI? Pick your team here.

Hearts have had the last ten days to digest the defeat in Dingwall and reflect on how they can get back to winning ways against the team directly below them in the Premiership table.

Derek McInnes has done a wonderful job at Rugby Park, guiding Kilmarnock back into the top flight and then seeing them progress up the table.

Indeed, when Robbie Neilson was sacked last year there were a few Jambos calling for the former Aberdeen boss to make the move to the capital.

That didn't come to pass though, and Steven Naismith has also done a terrific job in firing Hearts back to where they belong.

And with James Penrice, Yan Dhanda and Blair Spittal all agreeing pre-contract deals before the summer, the future certainly looks bright.

As soon as third place is secured then youngsters like Macauley Tait and Aiden Denholm are likely to be given more time on the pitch, providing them valuable experience looking forward.

With only eight league matches left to play the finishing line is now in sight. But with a cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden to look forward to, there is still so much to play for.