Robbie Neilson has assured Armand Gnanduillet his starting chance will come at Hearts.
The striker emerged from the bench during Saturday's 2-1 win over St Mirren to help the Jambos climb to the Premiership summit with two wins from their opening two matches.
Liam Boyce has been leading the line for the Tynecastle men but Gnanduillet showed his worth with strong hold-up play in the build-up to Hearts' winner in the second-half.
Neilson revealed he sat down the Frenchman with a chat in midweek to explain he must be patient for the opportunity to impress over 90 minutes, and that the forward understands the situation.
“He gives you a platform," the Hearts boss told the Edinburgh Evening News.
“The only thing is, if I bring him on at 60 minutes we are usually bringing one of our quick players off so then we don’t get any crosses into the box which is his real threat so he becomes a link.
"He’s had to be patient. I had a chat with him during the week.
"Boyce has been doing exceptionally well. So sometimes you have to wait and be ready to come on.
"He understands that and it’s a case of waiting to get in. There will be times we play two up top but Saturday wasn’t the day.”
