New Hearts boss Derek McInnes says squad needs a tweak not an overhaul

Derek McInnes has told the current Hearts players they can still play a big part in his plans to revive the club on the back of a dispiriting season in which two of the new manager’s predecessors were sacked.

The 53-year-old was appointed on Monday at the end of a campaign in which the Jambos finished seventh in the William Hill Premiership and disposed of Steven Naismith in September and Neil Critchley in April.

McInnes still feels Hearts, who finished in the top four in each of the previous three seasons, boast plenty of players he would like to utilise going forward.

“I want to make sure that my time here is a success so I’m going to make sure I put together a squad that can meet the demand here and a lot of the current players are a huge part of that, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.

“I do think there’s a capability here within the squad. And with the right additions and the right tweaking of the squad, we can look forward with a lot more optimism for the season ahead.”

It remains to be seen whether Scotland internationals Craig Gordon and Lawrence Shankland will be part of McInnes’ squad, with both players’ contracts due to expire, but the new manager indicated he is keen to retain them.

“I think as soon as we finish this (press conference) I can probably get going with that sort of stuff,” he said.

“I know Lawrence more than Craig, but both are capable players and have proven they’re good players here. And I just want to work with good players.

“These conversations will be had, as they will do with the majority of the squad over the next wee while and I’ll obviously be spending time with (sporting director) Graeme Jones over the next few days and really kind of honing in on what we need for the start of the campaign.

“And hopefully when the window closes, the squad will be more rounded, maybe a bit more balanced and a bit more of what I would want it to be for the challenges ahead.”