The key Hearts decisions facing Steven Naismith ahead of St Mirren

Hearts don't have the greatest of records in Paisley and lost last time out, 1-0 in the September meeting between the sides. 

The team have been dealt a blow ahead of the game with Calem Nieuwenhof not ready to feature and Beni Baningime a doubt due to illness. 

Writers Joel and James try to predict what team Steven Naismith will select...

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Joel Sked

Just when you were thinking Steven Naismith was getting a deeper and more flexible squad to choose from, the Hearts head coach delivers the news that Calem Nieuwenhof remains out for the trip to St Mirren and Beni Baningime is a doubt. The good news is that Barrie McKay has had no negative reaction having returned against Kilmarnock after a long injury lay-off.

It does make predicting what the starting XI will be in Paisley that wee bit trickier. Naismith's preference of late has largely been the back four but I wouldn't be surprised to see him revert to a back three for this encounter. For a few reasons.

Firstly, St Mirren will be a threat from set pieces. Their last three goals have come from them. Having three centre-backs as well as Alex Cochrane should provide more solidity from that threat. And, secondly, Motherwell got a lot of joy from their left wing-back Georgie Gent attacking the space behind Ryan Strain and then Elvis Bwomono. The Steelmen's best attacks came down the left flank with dangerous balls into the box.

St Mirren want to congest the game and make it difficult to play through. At the SMiSA Stadium, the space will be down the flanks. Having three forwards will allow the likes of Kenneth Vargas and Alan Forrest to combine with the wing-back and look to move around the St Mirren centre-backs, in turn making space for Lawrence Shankland and others in the box. 

Hearts will dominate the ball but perhaps not as much as one may expect. I'd reckon the visitors will have around 55 per cent. Still, the midfield must take care of it. St Mirren will press the ball intensely therefore it is vital to ensure there are no turnovers to allow the Buddies to counter which they can do effectively, getting the ball into their frontman and supporting. Prior to the news surrounding Nieuwenhof and Baningime, I'd have predicted the pair would start in the middle of the park. The hope is that Beni will make it and be able to play 60 minutes but who plays alongside him? There are four options but I'd like to think Macaulay Tait showed enough against Kilmarnock to retain his place. He is mobile, takes care in possession and is more than happy to put himself about. Should Beni not make it, I wonder if we see Tait take the deeper of the two midfield positions and Cammy Devlin partnering him.

Equally, getting hold of the ball and control will mean that the wing-backs can advance. As always with this formation there is a danger it becomes a back five too often. If Steven Naismith does start with the back three the wing-backs must strive to get forward and wide to create space and push the home side back.

Predicted line-up: Clark; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Atkinson, Baningime, Tait, Cochrane; Vargas, Shankland, Forrest.

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James Cairney

I think we could see Hearts lining up in a 3-4-3 this in Paisley. A back three seems sensible to me, especially when taking the 1-0 loss to St Mirren at the same venue back in September into consideration. Hearts have come a long way since then, but it was notable how uncomfortable the four-man defence looked that day, with Kye Rowles in particular struggling to keep up with the physical battle.

A back three of Rowles, Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley provides some added defensive security, while still keeping Rowles’ recovery pace in the team – something that could prove useful against one of the Premiership’s most potent counter-attacking sides.

Moving forward, Alex Cochrane seems to be a shoo-in on the left but things aren’t quite as clear cut on the other side. As we examined earlier in the week, Dexter Lembikisa and Nathaniel Atkinson each have their strengths and weaknesses, and neither has managed to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI. I’d expect to see Atkinson return to the starting line-up for this one though, following on from Lembikisa’s struggles against Kilmarnock last week.

Central midfield is another tricky position. With Calem Nieuwenhof still sidelined through injury and Beni Baningime a doubt due to illness, Steven Naismith is missing what is arguably Hearts’ strongest midfield pairing. I suspect Cammy Devlin is nailed on to start if Baningime misses out – no other midfielder on the books does as much work off the ball as Devlin or Baningime – and I think Jorge Grant will hold onto his place too.

Up front, though, Naismith has plenty of options to choose from. Lawrence Shankland, of course, will lead the line and I think he’ll be supported by Alan Forrest on the left and Kenneth Vargas on the right. If Hearts line up in a 3-4-3, then they can potentially overload the wide areas and cause St Mirren some real problems.

In my view, Forrest and Vargas deserve to hold onto their places due to their fine form of late, although I’d expect to see Barrie McKay come off the bench to get some more minutes in his legs, and for Yutaro Oda to come on and stretch the game if Hearts enter the final half hour or so chasing the game and needing to stretch it.

Predicted line-up: Clark; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Atkinson, Devlin, Grant, Cochrane; Vargas, Shankland, Forrest.