Kenny Anderson will ‘slot in’ at Hearts - Neilson

Hearts are expected to hand Kenny Anderson his debut in Saturday’s rearranged league clash with Livingston after receiving international clearance for their new signing yesterday.
Kenny Anderson has signed for Hearts from RKC Waalwijk. Picture: rkcwaalwijk.nlKenny Anderson has signed for Hearts from RKC Waalwijk. Picture: rkcwaalwijk.nl
Kenny Anderson has signed for Hearts from RKC Waalwijk. Picture: rkcwaalwijk.nl

The 22-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands to a Scottish father and Dutch-Indonesian mother, penned an 18-month deal to join from cash-strapped Dutch second tier outfit RKC Waalwijk.

Hearts are understood to have paid a nominal fee for the player, who had the remainder of this season left on his contract in the Netherlands, with Waalwijk admitting last night that the cash would “contribute to the survival” of the club.

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Described as a box-to-box midfielder, Anderson played 25 times for Waalwijk in the Eredivisie top-flight last season but could not prevent the club from being relegated.

He will now bid to help Hearts maintain their healthy lead at the top of the Championship and win promotion back to the Scottish top-flight.

Head coach Robbie Neilson said: “I’m delighted to get Kenny on board. He’s a quality player, one who I believe will slot right into our side.

“I’m looking forward to working with him and I feel we will get the best out of him.”

Anderson spoke last March of having been contacted by Mark Wotte, then the SFA’s performance director, to talk about his on-field progress and the possibility of playing for Scotland. He many now be hopeful of catching the eye of Gordon Strachan as he bids to prove his quality in Scottish football.

In an interview last year, Anderson explained his Dutch-Scottish heritage. He said: “I feel half and half. I’m proud to be Dutch, but I’m also proud to be Scottish. At the club, they call me a foreigner, a Scot, but in Scotland, they say I’m Dutch. I feel like I’m both. My parents brought me up in a way that is Scottish and Dutch.”

Meanwhile, Jason Holt insists he is eager to make an early impression with Sheffield United after getting a taste for the size of the club he has joined at the weekend.

The 21-year-old left Hearts to join the Blades on loan for the rest of the season on Friday and was a spectator as the English League One side knocked leaders Swindon Town off top spot on Saturday and moved into a play-off place themselves with a 2-0 victory.

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In front of a crowd of nearly 19,500 at Bramall Lane, United won the match with a brace from former Motherwell winger Jamie Murphy and the occasion whetted the appetite of Holt, who will now bid to win a permanent deal. The Scotland Under-21 cap said: “It’s been a whirlwind few days but it was good to get down and take in a game, and it was a great result.

“It was good to sample the atmosphere. The fans were great, it’s a massive club, and I’m glad to be here. Now I’m just looking to impress.”

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