Craig Levein wants to avoid repeat of 2017 blunders in transfer window

Hearts boss Craig Levein says his New Year's resolution is to avoid making a repeat of 2017's transfer blunders.

In his previous role as the Jambos’ director of football, Levein was largely responsible for the club’s recruitment.

But he was forced back into the dug-out by chairwoman Ann Budge after previous manager Ian Cathro was axed on the back of two failed windows.

Craig Levein is looking to strengthen his Hearts squad in the January transfer window. Picture: SNS

Now with the January sales just a couple of weeks away, Levein says he is determined not to make the same mistakes.

Levein - whose side ended a six-game run without a win with Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over Motherwell - said: “I’ve spoken regularly about the need to build up confidence and hopefully Saturday’s result will help with that.

“Then once the January transfer window opens up hopefully we can do a bit of business to balance the side up too, which will help as well.

“A lot of what we do next month will depend on what we can afford. There are some players that will probably need to move on but there will have to be a balance there.

Craig Levein is looking to strengthen his Hearts squad in the January transfer window. Picture: SNS

“Is next month’s a crucial window? They are all crucial. If you make a mistake it’s not easy to fix. We just need to make sure we don’t make any mistakes. That’s the focus for January.”

Niall McGinn can be viewed as a low-risk signing but Levein was remaining tight-lipped on his chase for the former Aberdeen winger, who is also being targeted by the Dons and Hibernian.

But having also invited Inverness speed marchant Jake Mulraney to Edinburgh for a trial, Levein did confess pace is top of his wish list for next month.

“I don’t really want to get dragged into talking about individuals,” he said. “I don’t really see the point. We’ll see what happens in January.

“But we do need speed in the wider areas, that’s for sure. We need a left-back and other things as well.”

Hearts face a Dundee side on Tuesday who Levein believes are gathering momentum under Neil McCann - but he hopes the same can be said of his own team.

He said: “They have definitely improved. Neil has got them playing on the front foot.

“They have already beaten us this season up at Dens, so we’re aware of their capabilities.

“We have been solid without being spectacular so on that basis I hope we can now push on and perhaps create more opportunities.”