Andrew McKinlay admits he laments Steven Naismith’s decision not to sign two strikers in the summer transfer window.
Naismith had the final say over who he wanted to recruit for his squad and felt the addition of Musa Drammeh was enough to bolster his striker options.
It may have seemed like a reasonable decision at the time with Hearts already boasting the services of Lawrence Shankland, Kenneth Vargas, Liam Boyce and the emerging James Wilson.
But Shankland has scored just one goal this season after a goal-laden 2023/24 campaign, Vargas is wasteful in front of goal and Boyce is in and out of matchday squads.
McKinlay regrets lack of Hearts striker signings
Speaking at Wednesday’s Hearts AGM, as quoted by Hearts Standard, McKinlay told shareholders on not signing another striker in the summer: “I’ve read a lot about (it), I can’t disagree with that.
“Signing decisions are very much down to the head coach. They then work with the recruitment team to go out and get players. For the forward postion, the player who was signed was Musa Drammeh.
“I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the drop off in form and goal-scoring in Lawrence, also from Kenneth (Vargas), also from Liam (Boyce). I wish we had gone out and signed another top level striker.
“In my time at the club, I have never been asked anything from a head coach that I or the club wasn’t able to give them.”
Will Hearts recruit in January?
In short, yes. While he stopped short at confirming a striker will be on the club’s shortlist for the January transfer window, McKinlay said there will be at least one incoming and possibly more than one outgoing.
He said: “We are all well aware where our big issues, we need to make changes in January where we can.”