Stephen Kingsley admits Robbie Neilson’s Hearts vision convinced him to extend his contract.
The left back has penned a new 18-month deal with the league leaders, which will keep him at Tynecastle until the summer of 2022.
Fans had been clamouring for Hearts to get Kingsley tied down beyond the summer after a highly impressive start to his stint in maroon.
And they got their wish, with the 26-year-old who is right on board the Scottish Premiership train as promotion to the Championship looks more likely with every week that passes.
However, just getting there isn’t enough for the former Hull and Swansea man - he wants to go back up and keep climbing straight away.
“Last year was very difficult for so many boys that I know personally who were out of contract, myself included.” he said.
“If it was difficult to deal with but I had the opportunity to come here and spoke to the gaffer, heard what his project was for the next couple of years.
“It was something that I could really get on board with. Coming back home with the family interested me too and that was the start of it really.
“I’m now really looking forward to kicking on, continuing the project and getting us back to where we should be.
“And by that I don’t mean getting back into the top league, I mean getting to the top end of that league.
“That’s the project and if I can help that then it would be brilliant.”
