Hearts remain 11th in the Premiership despite having picked up under Neil Critchley and going four unbeaten in the league.
Progress in the Scottish Cup after beating Brechin City on Friday night was another positive, and the Jambos have now been drawn against St Mirren in the fifth round.
Hearts have had huge criticism for their efforts so far this campaign as a club with one of the biggest budgets in the league fights it out in the relegation places.
Even new boss Neil Critchley hasn’t been exempt despite only being appointed in October and Michael Stewart expressed concerns over whether he is a ‘strong enough character’ for the job.
Stewart continued to double down on his thoughts on Critchley and insisted the Englishman should be sacked.
But things have started to move in the right direction with recent results and the Tynecastle men are also looking to improve their squad in the January transfer window.
Elton Kabangu and Jamie McCart have been signed so far and Norwegian midfielder Sander Kartum looks set to follow them into Hearts.
Defender Michael Steinwender is also close to signing and there could be further additions.
In his latest assessment though, Stewart still isn’t convinced this all points to positivity.
Real Critchley and Hearts barometer
Even if Hearts continue on an upwards trajectory for the rest of the campaign, their former captain insists the true indicator will be next season.
By then, Critchley will have had another full transfer window and the squad will then be starting to look like one he has shaped.
Only then will Stewart be convinced things are moving in the right direction.
Speaking on Premier Sports’ Social Club show, he said: “I’m just being honest here, I don’t know. And I don’t think anybody can say definitively or with real confidence. There is still a lot of unknowns.
“It’s not being hyper-critical of the manager of the process within it. There’s a lot of unknowns and with that you need to see some results in regards to players coming in, manager’s record, to then build up a bit of confidence and belief in what they’re trying to do.
“My criticism has been historically with the board, in a footballing context, that I’m not overly convinced they’ve made a lot of good football decisions.
“They’re going down the route with the analytics, the manager has come in and, let’s be honest, it was looked upon as an underwhelming appointment.
“I don’t think anything has happened to suggest that you should massively alter that view. We’re now in January, it just feels like they’re still second bottom.
“Yes, they’re close to a lot of the teams above them but I don’t see this season being what it could have or should have been.
“So for me, I look to next season as the barometer of how this is going to do. I almost look at this season as being treading water, a bit of a waste really.”
Credit for Brechin response
Hearts were given a real scare when St Johnstone loanee Scott Bright fired Brechin into a shock lead with a beauty of a strike.
But the response was there as the top flight side went on to run out 4-1 winners.
Stewart added: “Credit to them. It wasn’t instant, the good response, but the goal from Yan Dhanda was outstanding.
“And the second half performance was better. Once you’re 1-0 down playing on that park there is element of fear that this could be a real banana skin.
“They handled it well. It wasn’t scintillating, it was job done.”