Ben Woodburn’s versatility is one of the things that made him an attractive proposition for Hearts.
But Robbie Neilson isn’t planning on sticking him out on the wing and feel she can get more out of the Liverpool loanee if he plays more centrally.
Woodburn can play out wide, but has tended to do his best work either as a striker or a number ten.
Central midfielder isn’t completely alien to him either, but primarily he’ll be utilised as part of the Jambos’ front three alongside a combination of Josh Ginnelly, Gary Mackay-Steven, Liam Boyce and Armand Gnanduillet.
Neilson admitted he didn’t think Woodburn was a player Hearts had a realistic chance of getting, but is delighted to now have him in maroon.
“I think Ben would play more narrow if he’s playing in that front three,” said Neilson. “It just gives us some options. Gino and Gary tend to play wider, Ben will play a bit more inside. He plays in the number 10 role and he can play as a number eight as well. He plays attacking-wise in midfield so we are pleased getting a very good player from Liverpool.
“Technically he is very strong. He is direct and takes people out of the game. He just creates opportunities and is somebody who can change the game for you. I think it’s important we get a few more of them in the team.
“To be honest, when this first got flagged up, we didn’t think we would have a chance of getting him just because of the level he’s at. To be in matchday squads and on the bench for Liverpool, it’s a big coup for us to get the deal done and manage to bring him here.
“We had been working on that one for a while. It went back and forward. Liverpool kept a hold of him and he was in the squad for a couple of their games. Last weekend he wasn’t involved and they allowed him to come up here. I think we would always have got it done but we were worried it would go right to the wire.”
Neilson has stressed all summer that waiting to get the players he and Joe Savage really wanted, rather than sacrificing quality for a quicker deal, has been key.
“That has been the key right the way through,” Neilson told the Edinburgh Evening News. “Joe and I have been working away. I know there can be an impatience from everyone to get signings in but we have to make sure we bring in the right ones.
“We can wait and wait. If it gets to the end of the window and we maybe feel we need somebody in a certain area, I don’t want to just fill that space with anybody. It could be that we say: ‘Let’s just wait until the January window.’ We could get by without filling it.”
