Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Garang Kuol and Yutaro Oda Hearts plan detailed by Robbie Neilson as he highlights 'development'

Robbie Neilson has opened up on his plans for Yutaro Oda and Garang Kuol at Hearts.

The Jambos brought the pair to the club in January to aid their push to finish best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers and qualify for Europe once again and be successful in the Scottish Cup. Both have arrived from different cultures having joined Scottish football from Japan and Australia respectively. The pair have both started on one occasion for the Tynecastle club to date while making a couple of appearances off the bench.

Neilson has outlined a patient approach will be adopted. They will start certain fixtures and in others they will come off the bench. The Hearts boss admits it is all about development for the duo at this stage as they get used to life in the capital. Speaking to Edinburgh Evening News, Neilson said: "He [Oda] is in a different continent in a different culture playing a different style of football.

READ MORE: Yutaro Oda reveals Celtic Japanese connection as Hearts star lifts lid on dinner outing that 'taught' him

Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

“We have an interpreter getting the language across to him so that he understands what we are trying to do. It's going to take time. He just needs to take his 20 minutes here and 30 minutes there.

“It's the same with Garang. He is a young kid so there are certain games he will start and others when he will come on. It's about development for both of them.”

Hearts set up a quarter-final tie in the Scottish Cup against Celtic after victory over Scottish Championship strugglers Hamilton Accies.

Oda was introduced in the final stages of the match, but Kuol was unused.

He added: “We just played a Scottish Cup tie on a Friday night on astroturf, it was bucketing down with rain, a 200-miles-an-hour game. You can actually end up hindering young players like that by putting them into those situations."

READ NEXT:

- Michael Smith would love Hearts stay as he sends future message but concedes decision not his

- Hearts loanee James Hill reveals ex-Celtic star Ryan Christie's advice ahead loan from Bournemouth

- Robbie Neilson Hearts must take 'next step' in Scottish Cup as he hails goal star Stephen Humphrys

- Lawrence Shankland's Hearts shout at Stephen Humphrys revealed as he opens up on own half stunner

- Hearts' Callum Paterson 'six-figure' deadline day bid as Sheffield Wednesday 'open' contract talks

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.