Hearts boss explains player’s pre-season position switch
Looking down on Heart of Midlothian during their pre-season camp in Tenerife at the T3 training complex, there was an attacking drill that involved full-backs and attacking midfielders. The most notable participant was Aidan Denholm.
The 20-year-old, in the second group of four to go through the exercise, was playing as a right-back.
It is not an uncommon role. Steven Naismith used him in that position during training last season prior to Denholm making his Scotland Under-21s debut as a wing-back. Come Saturday’s friendly with Leyton Orient, he replaced Daniel Oyegoke at half-time in the full-back position.
That decision was “a bit of both” in terms of new signing Gerald Taylor not having joined up with the squad until Monday and Denholm being viewed as an option at right-back with Nathaniel Atkinson and Toby Sibbick both set to leave the club.
Adding versatility to his arsenal can only be a positive, opening up doors for more minutes on the pitch.
“I think he is a midfielder but he’s intelligent and I think he’s got the all-round attributes that he can play there,” Naismith explained. “I encourage most of the young players to try different positions because, if you can play three or four positions, there’s more chance of you getting a game.
“He has been really receptive to it and wanted to learn. He showed in Saturday’s game that there were loads of good moments. That energy to get up and down the pitch, he’s got that comfortably. I think he can play both positions but ultimately I do think he is a midfielder
