Osman Sow seals Hearts deal and targets promotion

Osman Sow celebrates equalising against Manchester City. Picture: SNS

Sow was linked with capital rivals Hibernian at the end of last season but has instead penned a two-year deal across the city following a successful trial spell.

The 24-year-old spent last term with Crystal Palace but found his chances of a first-team breakthrough seriously hampered by a knee ligament injury picked up shortly after arriving from Syrianska in his Swedish homeland, and he did not make a top-team appearance south of the border. However, the powerful 6ft 4in striker has impressed Neilson and director of football Craig Levein with two goals in two pre-season friendlies for Hearts – against East Fife and in Friday night’s narrow 2-1 defeat by the might of Manchester City.

The Stockholm-born marksman, who had a brief spell in Moldova with Dacia Chisinau, is eager to continue his goalscoring form when the competitive action gets underway, starting with the visit of Annan Athletic in Saturday’s Petrofac Training Cup tie.

Sow said: “I’m happy to have signed for Hearts. It’s a massive club which should be in the top flight.

“There’s a good bunch of lads here and everybody is working hard. The staff have been brilliant, so I’m happy.

“I’m happy to play my football here and I can’t wait to do it as soon as possible.

“Manchester City was a good game to play in and it’s always fun to play against big teams. I’m happy and I’m looking forward to the season starting.

“It’s a big thing to play in front of so many fans and I’ve heard a lot of good things about the supporters here.

“It’s a tough start to the season but it’s good, it gets you on your feet. If we work hard then we can get some good results, and if I work hard then hopefully I’ll score a lot of goals in Scotland.”

Sow joins former Rangers goalkeepers Neil Alexander and Scott Gallacher, ex-Dundee United pair Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis, Turkey under-21 defender Alim Ozturk and strikers James Keatings and Soufian El Hassnaoui in joining a revamped Hearts since relegation from the Premiership last season.

Neilson is thrilled to have beefed up his strike-force with the capture of the Swede.

He said: “I’m delighted to get Osman here. He’s a tall, athletic player who will add strength to our forward line.

“He’s a quality player and spent last season down in the English Premier League with Crystal Palace, so it’s a bit of a coup to get him here.

“I’ve been impressed with him in training and with his appearances against East Fife and Manchester City. I’m very satisfied now with the attacking options that we have.”