Hearts make forward Rogers Mato their fourth signing of the January window

Hearts have completed their fourth signing of the January window after announcing the arrival of “livewire” Uganda forward Rogers Mato.

The 22-year-old agreed a pre-contract earlier this month to move to Tynecastle in the summer but the Jambos have since struck a deal to bring him in on loan from Macedonian club Vardar until the summer.

At the end of the season, upon expiry of his contract with Vardar, Mato’s permanent three-year deal with Hearts will begin.

“It’s great work from the club to get Rogers in during this window and I’m really pleased that he’s here and ready to go,” manager Derek McInnes told Hearts’ website.

“He’s a livewire player, always looking to attack and cause the opposing defence problems.

“He’s been in to meet the boys and has made a good first impression, and we’re all looking forward to working with him.”

Mato, who played all three of Uganda’s matches at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, has scored eight goals in 41 appearances for his country.

The forward, who could be in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Dundee United, scored 12 goals in 13 games for Vardar in the first half of this season to help leave them top of the Macedonian top flight.

Mato follows Dutch right-back Jordi Altena, Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov and on-loan Birmingham midfielder Marc Leonard in moving to the William Hill Premiership leaders this month.

McInnes remains hopeful of adding another striker to his squad after learning last week that top scorer and captain Lawrence Shankland is set to be out until March with a hamstring injury.

The Jambos have been linked with a move for 24-year-old French attacker Amadou Ba-Sy, who plays for French third-tier club Rouen.

“We would like to bring one more in if we can,” McInnes said on Wednesday.