Jason Holt among trio set to exit Hearts

Jason Holt has drifted in and out of the Hearts team this season and could exit Tynecastle. Picture: Ian Georgeson

McKay is thought to be holding talks with St Johnstone over a pre-contract deal,, which would see him remain at Tynecastle until summer before heading to McDiarmid Park.

The 21-year-old joined the Tynecastle club from Edinburgh City at the age of 17, and made over 30 appearances for the first-team last year. However, the arrival of Alim Ozturk has seen the former Turkey Under-21 international preferred alongside Danny Wilson at the centre of defence.

Kilmarnock, Falkirk and clubs in the USA are reportedly keeping tabs on Robinson, 22, who hasn’t made the squad for the last two matches and has featured just eight times for the Jambos this season.

He became the youngest player in SPL history and the youngest player to have played competitive football for Hearts when he came on as a substitute during a match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in April 2008, at 16 years, 1 month and 14 days old.

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Holt is on Dundee United’s radar after drifting in and out of the Hearts squad this season, spending most of his time on the subs’ bench. His contract is due to expire in the next few months, and the 21-year-old could attract interest from south of the Border as well as United.

Neilson told the Edinburgh Evening News: “These are guys who want to play every week and they aren’t playing every week here.

“It’s a decision they need to make, whether they want to stay or whether they want to move on somewhere else and play.

“These boys are good players but they want to play football every week. I speak to them all the time.

“In Holt’s case, it’s been going on for a while. He wants to play every week and he’s not going to. I think he wants to go and play somewhere week in and week out. I’d like to keep a hold of him but I’m not going to stand in somebody’s way who wants to play every Saturday when they aren’t doing that here.

“There will be interest in him and it’s the same with Robinson.

“Brad is similar. He played a lot of games last year but’s not played a lot this year.”

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