Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jordi Altena says "it was a dream" to have made a winning debut for Hearts on Saturday less than a year since playing amateur football back in his Dutch homeland.

The 22-year-old right-back made an instant impact, providing the deep cross that set up Craig Halkett to head the only goal against Livingston as Hearts went six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

"I couldn't even dream about a day like this, so I'm really happy," Altena told BBC Scotland.

"I think the first moment, when the game was about to start, the fans were chanting and it gave me like, you know, the, how do you call it in Scotland? Goosebumps?".

Altena came through the youth ranks with Vitesse Arnhem but had made only two appearances for the senior side before moving to De Treffers in the Dutch third tier in 2024.

He won a move to Waalwijk in the division above last summer, with Hearts moving for his services after just 23 appearances in which he scored four times and provided eight assists for the mid-table side.

Altena explained that he had been happy at Waalwijk, but his performances attracted interest from Hearts and other clubs.

"I didn't even talk to the other clubs," he revealed. "When Hearts came, it was a beautiful chance for me and I couldn't say no."

Altena admitted he did not know much about Hearts previously but was impressed by videos he was sent of the stadium, their games and Edinburgh.

"Not many of my people could tell me something about Hearts, but they could about the city," he said. "And they said it's an amazing city and you're going to love it here.

"The gaffer gave me a really good feeling and the club itself when I talked to them. So I think that was the main thing."

After being handed an immediate starting place in a table-topping side, and "an assist and a win" on "a great debut", Altena admitted it is "a crazy start" and "I can't wait for the upcoming games".

On Atlena's debut, Hearts boss Derek McInnes said: "Jordi did well. I thought his touch was so pure, lovely feet.

"For a debut, it's not always easy, he's only had a few days training with us, but I think you can see he's a very good technical player, very confident with his work."

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a nervy win over bottom side Livingston.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Gordon: Three points is the bottom line but the second-half performance was awful, we were stuck in this endless sideways passing movement from the back and the ball needs to be going forward much faster if we're to use the speed we have in the wide areas.

David: To bounce back after last week's derby defeat was a must. Some questions however - 17 shots and only three on target is a concern, as is allowing Livi back into the game in the second half. Also why take so long to freshen things up in attack? Why is Elton Kabangu so obviously out of favour? Expect a tough game at Dundee next week.

John: Great first half, should have been out of sight. Thought our new right-back Jordi Altena was very comfortable. Onwards and upwards.

Peter: Nerves shredded in the lead-up to the final whistle but a very welcome three points and a first half of slick play that should have brought more goals. We must learn to smother teams early in the second half when we know they will fight back. Keep possession and frustrate them while hitting on the counter attack for 15 minutes, or run at them and tear them apart, one or the other, but not anything in between. Livingston are strong and we did well. Altena looks very good and his crosses were superb. Craig Halkett will agree with that and his own header was sublime. Well done to all!

Frank: In the first half we were streets ahead but it was just one of those days when all the breaks went to the opposition. If we repeat the first-half performance over 90 minutes in the future someone is going to lose by a cricket score.

New Hearts signing Islam Chesnokov missed watching Saturday's 1-0 victory over Livingston because his flight was delayed from Amsterdam, but head coach Derek McInnes says the 26-year-old winger is now in Scotland and will go through his visa application process on Monday as he completes his move from Tobol. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Hearts have confirmed the launch of their new talent strategy, "The Hearts Way", which will run in conjunction with the Jamestown Analytics scouting system and aims to support the club's young players through the boys and girls' academy, professional development phase and senior squads. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "At 1-0 it's always going to be nervy.

"You've got to credit Livingston. As an opposition manager David threw everything at it.

"In the end, the first half we looked like a team that deserved to be top of the league. I thought our keeper was magnificent because we knew there would be a reaction in the second half. We never quite looked settled enough. We had some moments but we still looked a bit rushed. Sometimes one goal is enough and it was enough today.

"I'd like to have enjoyed the second half a wee bit more but the enjoyment comes from winning and we'll all wake up tomorrow morning, look at the league table and say job well done.

"We should have done better with opportunities but the winning goal was magnificent. It's a brilliant header and it had to be good to beat that keeper today. Livingston have good players, they're really well managed. They might have lost a lot of games this season but they're in every one of them.

"It's a good day's work for Hearts, we should remind ourselves of that. We deserved to win it because we hung in at the end, dug deep and got that clean sheet."

Have your say on Hearts' performance.

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Hearts could hand new Dutch right-back Jordi Altena his debut. Pierre Landry Kabore is still on international duty and Calem Nieuwenhof, Ageu, Finlay Pollock (all hamstring) and Sander Kartum (hip) are all sidelined.

Livingston could include new signings Emmanuel Danso and Joshua Zimmerman.

They remain without Cammy Kerr (groin), Aidan Denholm, Shane Blaney (both hamstring) and Adam Montgomery (calf).

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• Heart of Midlothian have won each of their past four league games against Livingston; only from January 2005 to March 2006 have Hearts ever won five in a row against the Lions in the top flight.

• Livingston are winless in their past 14 top-flight away games at Hearts (D6 L8) since a 3-2 victory in May 2002.

• Hearts have won their first January game in each of the past four years in the Scottish Premiership, keeping a clean sheet in three of those victories.

• Hearts have won all three of their league games against Livingston (one) and Falkirk (two) so far this season, but haven't won four successive top-flight matches against newly-promoted opponents since November 2000.

• Livingston have conceded the most goals (39), have the highest xG against (36.8) and have the fewest clean sheets (one) of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Derek McInnes will not "dilute" Hearts' derby defeat as they attempt to get back to winning ways against Livingston on Saturday.

The Scottish Premiership leaders lost 3-2 at Easter Road last Saturday and are back at home for the visit of Livi this coming Saturday.

Celtic's midweek loss at Motherwell leaves the defending champions three points off Hearts going into Saturday's fixtures, when all 12 teams are in action.

"It's your job to knuckle down and get on with the job," McInnes said.

"You've got to accept that some defeats are more difficult than others. Sometimes you've got to accept that you've got to bounce back from sore ones. We've not had too many of those this season.

"We're not going to try and dilute it either. We spoke about the need to just try and move on really quickly. We lost a fight on Saturday. And there's more fights to be won."

David Martindale's Livingston are four points adrift at the foot of the table but have a game in hand over Kilmarnock.

"I speak to Davie regularly," said McInnes. "He's enjoying seeing what he's getting for his team more often than not. But obviously as a manager, you put a lot into it and you want to get the results. And ultimately, that's what we all need.

'We need good results as managers. His love for the club is clear. He feels the club's in good hands and a good, firm footing more than it's ever been.

"He's got good players. The league table will be a worry for them. But we know we've got a tough game on our hands, like any game.

"But we're at home. We want to go and get about the game, set about it and show that we can get back to winning ways pretty quickly, as we have done before."

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Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow insists they are only focusing on themselves as the Scottish Premiership title race heats up.

Derek McInnes' side lead defending champions Celtic by three points and Rangers by six points, while having a superior goal difference over both Glasgow clubs.

Celtic and Rangers go head to head on Saturday before Hearts try to bounce back from their Edinburgh derby defeat as they host bottom side Livingston.

"We just look on us," said German goalkeeper Schwolow. "We have to be sure that other teams are going to win their games.

"We just have to focus that we win our game. We couldn't win the last game, which is not good, especially because it was a derby.

"We wanted to win so badly, but we have the next chance on Saturday, and that's all we focus on.

"How we got the winning streak in September, October – that's what we need. We need those winning streaks. Hopefully we have a better day and we can beat Livingston on Saturday at home."

Schwolow, 33, has established himself as Hearts' number one ahead of Scotland internationals Craig Gordon and Zander Clark.

The German has already played more games for the Jambos since his summer arrival than he managed in his previous two seasons combined at Union Berlin.

Schwolow admits his move to Edinburgh has gone better than expected.

"You could not expect us to be where we are right now and win how many games we've won," he said. "We just want to continue on the way we have so far and keep enjoying it.

"I'm enjoying it so far. The first four months have been great, especially after the last two years where I didn't play so much. I hope we can just continue the path we're going on right now. In the locker room, I enjoy coming to work every day, and that's how it should be."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Goal of the year

With 93 goals scored by Hearts in 2025 there is no shortage to choose from but Stephen Kingsley's strike against Falkirk has to be the winner.

From outside the box he rifled his shot beyond Scott Bain with ease. You will struggle to find a sweeter strike this season.

Result of the year

The phrase 'statement win' has become more relevant this season given the way the team have performed. But to go and win at Celtic Park, who had new manager Wilfried Nancy in the dugout, proved to any doubters this is a season like no other.

Beating both halves of the Old Firm home and away is no mean feat but the win against the current champions on their own ground is the pick of 2025.

Player of 2025

It would be easy to look at the likes of Claudio Braga or Alexandros Kyziridis for this honour given the impact they have made since joining the club in the summer.

But Lawrence Shankland has been a massive player for Hearts this year.

There was much speculation regarding Shankland's future in the summer and when the 30-year-old's new contract was announced the fans rejoiced. It also brought about a return to form for him both domestically and for the national team.

His leadership on the pitch this season has been immense. Even a Hibernian fan said to me after the weekend game they didn't quite realise just how good a player he was.

Quote of the year

"I will be very disappointed if, in the next 10 years, we don't win at least one league title."

The words of Hearts investor Tony Bloom before this season's opening league fixture against Aberdeen.

We may not have to wait too long for Bloom's words to come true.

Looking forward

When the league campaign got under way in August few would have given Hearts much chance of being top of the pile come the new year, but that is exactly where they are.

That now comes, however, with an increase in expectation, which the players and management appear to be embracing.

New players will arrive in January and some will move on but the upward trajectory of the squad is expected to continue as the Jamestown Analytics model moves up a pace.

To win the Scottish Premiership this season would be an enormous leap from where the club were back in May, but whatever happens 2026 should be a positive time for everyone at Tynecastle.

Rangers are considering a January move for left-back James Penrice, who joined AEK Athens from Hearts in the summer. (Daily Record), external

Danny Rohl confirms Rangers are in talks with defender John Souttar over a new contract. (Glasgow Times), external

Read all of Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Hearts manager Derek McInnes has been speaking about the club's new right-back and other transfer issues. Here's a summary of what he had to say...

• New signing Jordi Altena, who will arrive from RKC Waalwijk on Thursday, has been tracked by the club for a number of months.

• Hearts had to act quickly or they would have lost out on signing the 22-year-old right-back.

• Altena should be available for selection on Saturday, when Hearts host Livingston.

• Prospective winger signing Islam Chesnokov will arrive in Scotland on Friday but it may be a couple of weeks before he is included in the squad.

• Conversations have taken place with "a few" who may leave the club in January, either on loan or permanently.

• "Nobody has asked the question" about goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who turns 43 on Wednesday, leaving on loan in the upcoming transfer window.

• McInnes describes the award of an OBE to the club's honorary president Ann Budge as " a great recognition".

Hearts defender Craig Halkett, 30, hopes to end his career with the Tynecastle club after agreeing a new contract until 2028. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Ann Budge said being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) was a "very nice" way to wrap up her "incredible" time as Hearts chair after she was honoured for her services to sport and the community.

The businesswoman, 77, led the Edinburgh club out of administration in 2014, ending her 11-and-a-half-year reign as chair earlier this month.

"It's a very nice recognition," she said. "It's not something I would have ever expected to see coming my way, so I'm very pleased.

"When I first got involved in sport I was very much a football supporter who went along on a Saturday and then forgot about it for the rest of the week.

"So the last 12 years or so have been incredible. But one of the things I'm glad that was mentioned is everything we've been able to do for the community which I think is the best of what football can offer."

With Hearts sitting top of the Scottish Premiership, Budge said her recognition should serve everyone working at Tynecastle.

"It's not really about me, it's about the whole group of people who've helped do what we've done both for the football club and for the community, so I think it's a great thing for them too," added Budge.

"It's also nice for the supporters because they've been so kind to me. It's great that it's being acknowledged that the club has done something nice."

Lawrence Shankland was in no mood to take any credit for Hearts' attempted fightback in the weekend derby defeat at Hibernian. (Edinburgh News), external

Read all of Monday's Scottish football gossip

Watch highlights as Hibernian beat Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts in an epic Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Hearts lost the Edinburgh derby 3-2 to Hibs at Easter Road.

Here's what some of you said:

Gavin: To see Hearts 'supporters' leaving Easter Road after Hibs scored their third goal three minutes into the second half was shocking! Real supporters are there through thick and thin. We are exceeding all expectations at this time. Be ashamed.

Chris: If we needed any proof Hearts will not finish top two, this proved beyond a doubt. Old Firm have been terrible all season but are still on our coattails. Every defender slower than a glacier and Stuart Findlay clearly incapable of defending full stop. Hearts were second best in every department and the scoreline flattered us.

John: Unacceptable on every level. Manager got the team, tactics and subs wrong. Players didn't compete. Timing of goals literally could not have been worse. Michael Steinwender isn't a right-back but was truly awful. Him, Findlay and Oisin McIntee aren't good enough. Claudio Braga needs benched. Unsurprisingly, our deficiencies were exposed. We must get creativity into that team and a proper right back ASAP.

Doug: The result hurts and the first 65 minutes were a horror show, but the players did well to regroup and at least made it a fight to the end. Goal difference was a concern at the start of the second half but to still be a few ahead of our rivals leaves us in a decent position, with the Old Firm to play each other next week.

David: Hibs were the better team. We never really turned up until the last 25 minutes. We were way below par. Onwards to the next game.

Jeff: As bad as Hearts were for 60 mins they still came so close to grabbing a draw. It showed the deficiency on our right side but guess what....a right winger and right-back on the way in January along with hopefully a fit record signing. No need to panic, expect Hearts to improve second half of season.

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Hearts boss Derek McInnes: "Poor starts, both halves losing a goal within the first three or four minutes of each half. It doesn't do anybody any good from our point of view.

"It wasn't anything about our attacking play, we had plenty of possession, we weren't incisive enough. But that's not the part that's let us down. The part that's let us down is stopping the switch of play, stopping crosses and not picking up midfield runners.

"If you don't do the basics well, it doesn't matter how good you are or how good a run you're on, you're going to end up with a sore one.

"We nearly get the draw at the end, the keeper's pulled off a brilliant save, but you can't just play for half an hour and lose three goals and expect to get something from the game.

"It's a sore one for us, but we've got to own that. We get to the top of the league not by being Barcelona, not by being something we don't think we are, it's by doing basics well in games. And particularly in a derby, you need to do that.

"The second half we gave a much more familiar showing to what we normally do. I think it's two defeats in 19, if we have two defeats out of the next 19, we've had a brilliant season, an unbelievable season.

"We're not going to start losing all wherewithal at this moment in time. We've lost a game and we know the reasons why we've lost the game."

Hibernian survived a late fightback from Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts to dent their rivals' title hopes in an epic five-goal Edinburgh derby.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.