With no movement during the summer transfer window, what is the state of play now for Hearts youngster Aidan Keena?
The Irishman has excelled in the Jambos youth sides and enjoyed a decent six month stint with Dunfermline last season. He scored five goals in 14 games for the East End park side.
Keena is a promising youngster. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
After returning to Hearts with a point to prove, things just haven’t clicked for him. He has only netted the one senior goal, in a game against junior side Auchinleck Talbot no less.
He doesn’t seem to have much chance of getting into the Jambos first-team, but Tynecastle is where he will remain until January at least.
What do the next few months hold for the striker though?
Keena needs a spell away from Hearts
With Conor Washington netting twice this season and the influential Steven Naismith around the place, attacking spots are limited in Gorgie.
Naismith is a guaranteed starter when fit. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Even more experienced strikers like Uche Ikpeazu and Steven MacLean are likely to have their game time limited this term. It means youth stars like Kenna won’t get much of a look in.
This seems to be a common theme amongst many youth players at Hearts. The likes of Harry Cochrane, Anthony McDonald and Connor Smith have all left on loan for valuable experience.
As for Keena, the next few months will likely be slow. He’s at a problematic stage where he’s not good enough for the first-team yet, proven by his one goal this year, but is too good for the youth sides.
He needs a loan move (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Hearts should have sent Keena out on loan. Kicking around doing little other than playing for the reserve team will not do the Irishman any good.
That’s what he’ll have to deal with over the next couple of months, but perhaps January will give him a chance to go out and gain experience elsewhere.