Jordan McGhee determined to remain in Hearts XI

Hearts defender Jordan McGhee is determined to hold on to his starting berth this weekend despite the Edinburgh side returning to full-strength.

Jordan McGhee: Four clean sheets in five matches. Picture: SNS

The gifted 19-year-old endured a frustrating first quarter of the season, failing to start any of Hearts’ first 10 Premiership fixtures amid an influx of defensive reinforcements in the summer.

However, he has been a fixture in the Tynecastle backline for the last five matches, taking advantage of suspensions to Callum Paterson and Blazej Augustyn as well as Juwon Oshaniwa’s injury problems.

Hearts have kept four clean sheets in the five consecutive matches McGhee has started.

That ensures head coach 
Robbie Neilson will have a headache against Dundee this weekend, with his previous first-choice back four of Oshaniwa, Augustyn, Igor Rossi and Paterson all expected to be available.

McGhee said: “There have been some difficult times – sometimes you are in the team, sometimes you are out the team.

“In the first nine games I didn’t really feature, just coming off the bench a couple of times.

“Ever since, I have been in the team. I have played in a couple of positions, through injuries and suspensions, but I think I have done really well and hopefully I can keep my place in the team.”