Heart of Midlothian

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Hearts have secured the early arrival of Uganda forward Rogers Mato after he agreed a pre-contract with the Tynecastle club.

The striker was due to arrive in Edinburgh on a three-year deal in the summer, following the conclusion of his contract with North Macedonian side FK Vardar, but will now join on loan until the end of the current campaign before contract begins in July.

Described by Hearts as "one of Europe's hottest properties", Mata, 22, has fuelled Vardar's quest for a first title in six years by scoring 12 times in 13 appearances.

He has 15 in 17 across all competitions for his club this season - and 21 in 33 since joining a year ago - while his three starts at the Africa Cup of Nations took his cap haul to 41.

Mato could well be the next success story to roll off the Jamestown Analytics production line.

Hearts fans, how do you feel about Mato's early arrival? How excited are you to have him in the building now? Will he be able to fill Lawrence Shankland's shoes?

Let us know your thoughts.

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

Hannah asked: Hi Brian, I was wondering if you think this is a sustainable improvement from Hearts and whether we can look towards a three-team title race in years to come?

Brian answered: Thanks for your question Hannah and it's one I'm sure that all Hearts fans would like an answer to. The way the club has been run for over ten years, since Ann Budge took control, was to ensure it was sustainable. Thanks to the generosity of James Anderson, The Hearts Foundation, and now Tony Bloom, the club have not just relied on ticket sales or prize money over this period of time.

I should also say the player trading model in the future will be a key part of the club being able to maintain the current financial model.

So the answer is yes if the player trading model works and the current level of funding from supporters and benefactors continue.

Jim asked: With the addition of the Jamestown Analytics, progress on unearthing football talent and Hearts' success so far this season, what plans do Hearts need to put in place now to allow for increased attendances? If it is Hearts' intention to regularly compete at the highest level, Tynecastle's capacity at a fraction over 20,000 is surely not enough to satisfy demands from fans, particularly those on the waiting list for season tickets?

Brian answered: There is no doubt there is a huge interest in Hearts and what is going on at the moment. However football is a strange game and you can rarely predict what will happen in a season never mind than the next five or ten.

Expanding Tynecastle would be hugely problematic and expensive and I'm sure the Hearts fans at the moment would much prefer any investment goes into the squad rather than increasing capacity.

Noel asked: Is there any truth in the rumour that Leicester are interested in recruiting Derek McInnes?

Brian answered: Whenever a club in Scotland brings in a manager who is an instant success, as Derek McInnes has been, then there is sure to be interest from other clubs so the Leicester City interest is understandable.

However, on this occasion I feel Hearts fans can rest easy and can look forward to McInnes being in the home dugout for the rest of the season. Leicester have had four different managers in the last two and a half years so it's hardly the most stable job in the country and with things going so well at Hearts it's unlikely his head would be turned should the Midlands club come calling.

Vardar winger Rogers Mato has arrived in Edinburgh and should complete his transfer to Heart of Midlothian in the next few days, and the Scottish Premiership leaders are also working on signing a new striker. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

Livingston boss David Martindale is backing Hearts to win this season's Premiership title and end Celtic and Rangers' 40-year grip on the trophy.

The Tynecastle club, led by Derek McInnes, are four points above Rangers and six ahead of Celtic at the top with 15 games remaining.

And Martindale suggested McInnes can take his Hearts team, buoyed by investment from Brighton owner Tony Bloom, all the way to the trophy.

"Hearts, I think they're the team," the Livingston boss said.

"I think Hearts have showed over the course of the season real consistency. I look at their squad. I look at Del [McInnes] and I want it to be Hearts. I want it for Scottish football, I want it for them.

"We all moan about Rangers and Celtic winning the league every year – is this [Hearts being top] not brilliant?

"Everybody's saying 'Oh, the Old Firm aren't playing well', but Hearts have been doing magnificent.

"I know a lot of the Hearts players, I know a lot of the Hearts staff. I think it's a fantastic football club that have now got a real good structure upstairs and downstairs. I think they've got a real, real chance.

"Take my Livingston hat off and the fact I grew up a Rangers fan. I love Scottish football, and for Scottish football, I think it would be brilliant if Hearts can go and win this league.

"I thought it was magnificent when Leicester did it in the English Premiership, and I think Hearts have got more than enough to do that. I think they've shown that against the Old Firm."

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Derek McInnes would like "one more" new arrival before the transfer window shuts on Monday night but admits Hearts are "up against it" with clubs raising prices.

The Premiership leaders have already landed permanent deals for right-back Jordi Altena, winger Islam Chesnokov and a loan for midfielder Marc Leonard.

They've also fast-tracked a deal for striker Rogers Mato, who was due to join on a free transfer in the summer, to get him to Edinburgh this month.

But head coach McInnes admits the £10m investment last summer from Brighton owner Tony Bloom, whose Jamestown Analytics company is used for Hearts recruitment, is presenting some problems.

"We'd still like to do one more," the Hearts boss told Sky Sports, external about potential new arrivals.

"The difficulty we're finding, because of our position in the league and because clubs are now aware of Tony Bloom, everybody thinks we're awash with money, which we aren't.

"Sometimes players we've maybe identified can soon become outwith our reach because clubs start to raise the fee and raise wages so we're up against it a bit.

"We'd like to bring in one more if we can but if we don't, if the window shuts with what we've got in the building, I'm confident we can make a right fist of it."

Hearts are four points clear of Rangers and six clear of Celtic and have only lost two league matches all season.

McInnes has reportedly attracted interest from Leicester City after they sacked boss Marti Cifuentes this week.

But the former Kilmarnock manager stressed his commitment to Hearts.

"I don't know where that's come from," he added.

"These things you just take with a pinch of salt really. I think it's clear my focus is here and I'm in the job that I want.

"I think there's work to be done here and I just want to make sure we finish the season as strongly as we can."

What would you like to ask our Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin about Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts?

He is in the hotseat, ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Put your questions to Brian here.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Can you smell that? That's the scent of title-winning belief in Gorgie, following plucky Celtic's efforts to stifle the champions-elect at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Of course, I say a lot of things tongue-in-cheek when it comes to the Jambos, but believe me when I say that if the current league holders sit 11 men behind the ball and look to counter, as well as run down the clock from the first whistle, Hearts are going to last the course of this campaign at the summit.

Never in my lifetime supporting Hearts and watching Scottish football would I believe that Celtic would be so poor at Tynecastle.

If I'm being honest, it's two points dropped against and a result I hope we don't regret later in the season, but Derek McInnes and the team do deserve enormous credit for their display.

Alexandros Kyziridis should have bagged himself a double, and Blair Spittal hit the bar in a game that Hearts dominated in the second half, apart from one Celtic counter for their second goal.

There were a lot of talking points from a Hearts perspective alone; from Craig Gordon surprisingly starting in goal to Marc Leonard's debut.

Of course, I'll have to talk about the red card since Celtic supporters are taking a brief break in berating their board to turn their ire on the Scottish FA following their "harsh" red card.

I'm sorry, but that's a red card in today's refereeing guidelines. Not just in Scotland but around Europe, certainly.

Auston Trusty had no intention of winning the ball and cynically stopped Pierre Landry Kabore in his tracks before he could run on to the ball and get a clear shot at goal.

You're not telling me that Liam Scales and Dane Murray double up as 100m sprinters and would have got ahead of a quick Kabore?

Some pundits are pouring scorn on our chances and are talking about Danny Rohl's rejuvenated Rangers, and I think that plays into our hands.

We've got an important week - not just because it's a tricky weekend trip to a Tannadice pitch that players would be better suited to wearing flippers on - but we've got to bring in a couple of bodies in the transfer window.

The arrival of Ugandan Rogers Mato will hopefully ease the burden on Kyziridis on that left-hand side, but we really need a target man to come in and be a proper number nine.

I'd love Jamestown Analytics to bring in a 6ft 2in striker, maybe a head-band sporting South American who is well versed in the dark arts and has 19 goals in 21 games in the Argentine third division.

We need a focal point to allow the likes of Claudio Braga, Kyziridis and others to play off and occupy defenders to free up space for others to run into.

If we were to get Mato and a big, physical striker in the door, I'll be a lot less jokey and a lot more confident when I'm asked if Hearts can win the title this season.

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Stuart Findlay believes it's important Hearts defenders contribute with goals during captain and top scorer Lawrence Shankland's absence.

The Scotland forward, 30, was last week ruled out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring problem.

Findlay, 30, scored Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts' first equaliser in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Celtic at Tynecastle.

Between Findlay and fellow centre-back Craig Halkett, the pair have contributed 12 goals so far this season.

"We've lost such a goal threat in Shanks for the next week while," Findlay told BBC Scotland. "We know that. We understand how much goals he brings to the team.

"But we know how much of a threat we've been at set-pieces. It's important we keep scoring. We've been a threat from these situations, which I thought we were again [against Celtic]."

Hearts lead Rangers by four points and Celtic by six. Victory away to Dundee United, where Findlay scored twice earlier this season, will open those gaps wider before Rangers visit Hibernian and Celtic host Falkirk on Sunday.

"We have to go into the game determined to get the three points, like we do every game," Findlay said.

"If you keep winning games, then you just sort of see what happens."

Hearts manager Derek McInnes is being considered by Leicester City following Marti Cifuentes' sacking. (Mail), external

Manager Jim Goodwin says Dundee United's ground staff will be working round the clock to try and ensure Saturday evening's Scottish Premiership meeting with Hearts at Tannadice goes ahead, with more rain expected this week after last Saturday's match with St Mirren at the ground was postponed. (Sun), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says Islam Chesnokov is being put through a "mini pre-season" to get him up to speed.

The Kazakhstan winger arrived in Edinburgh earlier this month having not played a competitive match since representing his country in mid-November.

The 26-year-old has featured three times as a substitute but was not included in the squad for Sunday's 2-2 draw against Celtic.

"Islam is someone we've waited a long time for," McInnes said.

"We probably underestimated him being able to pick up the speed of the game and the fitness of where he was at after maybe six or seven weeks without training.

"We've made a concerted effort with him and he decision was made that we would put him through a little mini pre-season for the next two weeks.

"He's been doing extra training just to try and get him able to cope with the speed of the game because obviously it's different from Kazakhstan.

"When everybody's starting from the same moment, then it's easier to find your fitness. But he's coming into a team who are more than halfway through the season.

"With the intensity of the Scottish game, we've got to be understanding that maybe (he needs) more training, more awareness of what's required.

"But we feel that he could get the benefit of these last two weeks. We're working him hard and he's eager to play his part. We're delighted that we've got him because we see his quality in training and we just want him to be as fit as he can be to demonstrate that."

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Stuart Findlay says Hearts were disappointed to only draw against Celtic at Tynecastle on Sunday, but believes it could still prove to be a significant point in the title race.

Derek McInnes' side maintained their six-point advantage over defending champions Celtic at the top, while Rangers narrowed the gap to four points with their win against Dundee.

Hearts twice came from behind against a Celtic outfit they had beaten in both previous meetings this season, but rallied through goals from Findlay and Claudio Braga.

Braga's goal came after Celtic defender Auston Trusty was sent off in the closing stages and Hearts looked the more likely to snatch a winner.

"I think you can see by the atmosphere in the changing room after the game, nobody was happy to draw with Celtic," Findlay said.

"In the past, it's probably seen as a great result; we all wanted to win a game of football.

"We want to win every game of football that we play. I think we've set ourselves a target of winning every game this year.

"And on the whole, we've been able to do that. Yes, we dropped two points today, but a point could be a massive result if you go to Dundee United and win next week."

Findlay came through the Celtic academy, but left without making a first-team appearance and his other experience in Scotland's top flight was with Kilmarnock across three spells.

The 30-year-old says being involved at the top end of the division is the most exciting time of his career.

"I was speaking to my wife about it this morning," he said. "We just talked about how big a game it was.

"I've played in a lot of high-pressure games for the wrong reason in this league over my time and to be involved in games like this today, it's an honour. It's something that you strive to be involved in.

"You heard the atmosphere today. It's a special game of football, and it's something I'm really glad to be a part of. And hopefully, if we can continue, we'll have many more of them before the end of the season."

Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts looked to be in trouble on Sunday when they trailed Celtic 2-1 at Tynecastle.

However, with the visitors vulnerable from set pieces, the man who hauled Derek McInnes' men level with a header at the back post caught Jonathan Sutherland's eye...

Stuart Findlay notched his sixth goal of the season in all competitions, going level with his central defensive partner Craig Halkett as the league leaders drew 2-2 against Celtic.

Watch Sportscene pundits Andy Halliday and Scott Allan discuss Claudio Braga's performance for Hearts in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Celtic.

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Andy Halliday believes former club Hearts need to add "one or two" more signings to maintain their Scottish Premiership title challenge.

The Tynecastle club have already added to their squad this month, but they were dealt a double injury blow with both captain Lawrence Shankland and key midfielder Cammy Devlin facing up to two months out.

Despite their absences, Hearts fought back twice on Sunday to claim a valuable points against challengers Celtic, but Motherwell's Halliday says they still need further January acquisitions.

He told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "There's going to be a challenge for Hearts, which is why I do think thy need to bring in at least another one or two to replace the players who are missing over the next two months.

"And within that two months, Hearts do have a really tricky period with fixtures.

"Without key players in the spine of their team, I think it's going to be a really, really tough ask for Hearts to get the same amount of points they got for the first third of the season, to the middle part of the season, to the final third of the season."

We asked for your views on Hearts' thrilling 2-2 draw with 10-man Celtic on Sunday.

Here's what some of you said:

Alan: We are dominating big games and small ones. Fought back hard when previously we'd have felt sorry for ourselves at 2-1 down and been stuck there. As long as there's all this effort for each other and the team and fans continue to stick together behind them. I need say no more. Pierre Landry Kabore could have scored, some other chances could have gone in, but we are still clear at top. Let's see at end February to April.

David: If you were a neutral then this game was a great advert for Scottish football. As a Jambo I am delighted, given the players we had missing, to take at least one point from the game in yet another battling display. Marc Leonard already looks like a useful addition but clearly the management team don't see Elton Kabangu in their plans.

Brian: Celtic had three chances and scored two of them. The majority of the time Hearts controlled the game and made Celtic look bang average. Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga both had great chances and we let Celtic off the hook. Kabore covered every blade of grass and Tomas Magnusson gets better with every game. A great performance considering how many injuries we have currently.

Peter: The fact that despite the loss of three key players, we can perform as well as we did is very encouraging for the prospects of winning the title race. The fact also that we probably should have won the game is a little frustrating, but that point won could prove to be crucial and I certainly would have settled for that prior to kick-off.

Chris: Frustrating. Big players take big chances when they come their way and we were guilty of missing a few sitters - you cannot pass up these when you're looking to win a league. The character of this team cannot be faulted. Celtic were over the moon with a draw against a Hearts team missing their three best players.

Watch highlights as Hearts strike late to rescue a draw against 10-man Celtic in a thrilling Scottish Premiership draw at Tynecastle.

MATCH REPORT: Hearts 2-2 Celtic

Hearts stay six points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a topsy-turvy thriller at Tynecastle that ends 2-2.

Derek McInnes' side had to come from behind twice but nearly snatched victory at the end against reigning champions reduced to 10 men after Auston Trusty's red card.

Rangers' win over Dundee means they overtake Celtic into second and are only four behind the Edinburgh side.

So where do you think that leaves Hearts' title hopes and what did you think of the game?

Read the match report.

Give us your thoughts.

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes is disappointed not to take all three points having "rattled" Celtic in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Tynecastle.

"On chances created and overall territory, it felt like we were the better team and were the more likely to win it," he tells BBC Scotland.

"It was a great free-kick by Celtic to take the lead, but we gathered ourselves well.

"The game played out the way we wanted. We unsettled Celtic, but we missed chances.

"We needed to hem them in a bit more and we asked for that at half-time.

"We are just annoyed that we did not stay 1-1 for longer and we have to pick ourselves up again and the goal is no more than we deserved.

"We are a wee bit disappointed that we did not take all three points. Most teams would have been happy with a point against a team like Celtic, but we rattled them.

"It's not often you see Celtic time wasting and trying to run down the clock. It shows our character to dig out a point without key players.

"To come back twice tells me everything. For us to be top for four months is not just a purple patch and we want to keep the whole thing going."

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill suggested visiting Auston Trusty should not have been sent off with his side leading 2-1 as the centre-half was not last man, but McInnes thought it was justified as he thought Pierre Landry Kabore was through on goal.