Andy Walker has backed Hearts to be 'stronger' in the second half of the season and secure third spot in the Premiership once again.
Robbie Neilson's men finished best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers last season and also reached the Scottish Cup Final in an impressive domestic season. That was rewarded with a European run of eight games - including six in the Europa Conference League group stages after elimination from the Europa League play-off round.
The Jambos are out to land that kind of experience again for next season and are on course with the capital club sitting third in the current standings. They can push six points clear of Aberdeen with a win over St Mirren on Friday night under the lights in Gorgie. Walker believes things can only improve at Tynecastle after a mounting injury list in the first half of the season. They are able to add recruits this month with James Hill and Yutaro Oda in the door already.
READ MORE: Hearts new boy James Hill reveals secret weapon as he details key attributes after loan transfer
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They've lost Craig Halkett and skipper Craig Gordon - both hugely influential players - for the rest of the campaign but the pundit believes that won't stop them on the road to back-to-back third-place finishes.
Asked if he feels they will finish best of the rest, he told Sky Sports: "I do. I think the leadership they have got with Robbie Neilson and his coaching staff and the strength of their squad.
"You've got to remember they had a good numbers of injuries earlier in season to key players. Craig Halkett and Liam Boyce were out. Both key figures in their starting XI. They managed to cope with that and I think you will see a stronger Hearts in the second half of the season.
"Not least of course because they are able to spend a bit of money with the players you just mentioned there. They've got a strong squad, a good numbers of options and I think the ambition is to finish third quite strongly."
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