Blair Spittal was one of the pre-contract signings Hearts picked up from Premiership rivals last year.
And along with fellow new arrival James Penrice, he has been one of their standouts this season and is their top scorer with six strikes.
The pair have linked up well down the left wing since Neil Critchley took over as manager and Michael Stewart has questioned why Spittal and Penrice weren’t played together under Steven Naismith.
The Jambos have turned around since their struggles under their previous boss and Critchley has been tipped for manager of the year if he can keep their current form going.
Spittal will be central to that after signing on a free from Motherwell last year.
Naismith managed to tie him down on a pre-contract from the Steelmen, a clear strategy as they also landed Yan Dhanda from Ross County and Penrice from Livingston.
The 29-year-old had been in fine form at Fir Park and so would not have been short of options, but has now opened up on the process of ending up at Hearts.
Spittal on Hearts move and St Mirren interest
Prior to his move to Gorgie being announced, there had been rumours of an agreement being in place with St Mirren.
That wasn’t the case but Spittal has admitted he did hold talks with the Buddies.
But after Naismith’s approach, there was only one place he was going to end up.
Asked on Open Goal if there were other teams in for him, he said: “There was a few, to be fair, in January. I spoke to St Mirren at the time. There was quite a bit on social media that I had signed but I hadn’t, obviously.
“But it was around February time that I spoke to Steven Naismith. Once I knew they were coming in, the size of club, it was a no-brainer for me.”
Spittal was also asked if he was surprised by the size of the club after he went in there, but insisted: “Not really, I’ve played against them enough times in the past at Tynecastle, it’s an amazing stadium. It’s an amazing opportunity for me.”
Spittal feels responsibility for Naismith Hearts sacking
Hearts struggled in the early parts of this season and Naismith ended up being out of a job with the club sitting at the foot of the Premiership.
As one his big summer signings, Spittal felt a responsiblity for his sacking.
Asked if it was difficult to see the manager who signed him lose his job, he went on: “I think so. Because the team were flying last year, finishing third, cup semis and getting into Europe.
“Then you come in and the manager loses his job, you feel partly responsible.
“I had the same at Motherwell with Graham Alexander, a few games and he was sacked. So it’s not great, the worst feeling.
“When you’re not winning games and chopping and changing the team, trying to find that formula, sometimes it just doesn’t work.
“But it’s all about now and we’ve managed to pick up.”