Neilson eyes new deals for Irvine and Ginnelly

HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson is hopeful of tying down Josh Ginnelly and Andy Irving on new deals after extending Stephen Kingsley’s contract for a further 18 months.

Left-back Kingsley, who joined in October from Hull City, yesterday agreed fresh terms that will keep him at Tynecastle until summer 2022 after shining in this season’s Championship title push.

Highly rated midfielder Irving’s agent has returned with a counter offer to the club as Hearts attempt to secure the 20-year-old on a long-term deal.

Neilson is also keen to land fleet-footed winger Ginnelly, who is on loan from Preston until the end of the season, on permanent terms.

On Kingsley’s deal, Neilson, who refused to elaborate on Hearts’ reported interest in Walsall striker Elijah Adebayo, said: “We’re delighted to get him on board for another 18 months.

“We’ve been speaking to him for a couple of weeks about trying to extend this. It brings a bit of stability for him and for ourselves.”

Regarding contract Neilson added: “We’ve Andy a contract.

“He’s come back, there’s been a counteroffer so we’ll go back again. We’d like to try and get that over the line.”

Ginnelly has been restricted to only two Championship starts in a total of eight appearances talks, offered after tearing a thigh muscle in October before then being laid low by Covid-19.

Neilson, whose side host Raith Rovers tomorrow in the Scottish Championship, insists Ginnelly is worth taking a gamble on.

He added: “We’ve just started speaking to his agent. We will continue talking to try and get things moving.”