Robbie Neilson admits he was glad to get Kye Rowles signed up for Hearts before he shone for Australia in their World Cup play-off final win.
The Aussie centre back put in a Man of the Match display as the Socceroos booked a fifth successive appearance at the finals with a penalty shoot-out win over Peru. Rowles had penned a three-year contract with the Jambos just days before, and if he, Nathaniel Atkinson and Cammy Devlin are called-up for Qatar, then Hearts stand to net nearly £500,000 in compensation from FIFA.
But Neilson is just glad Rowles had already committed to the capital club before anyone else could be tempted after watching him keep the Peruvians at bay. "We were, to be fair,” Neilson admitted. “We knew he was a good player who would be round about the squad but he has obviously played in both games and done really well. I think he will be an excellent player for us.
