Not only did Hearts finish comfortably in third place last season, but they did it using the fewest number of players in the Premiership.
Robbie Neilson’s side finished 13 points clear of nearest challengers Dundee United, securing qualification for the Europa Conference League. A run to the Scottish Cup final ensured group stage football until Christmas, but they dropped out of the Europa League at the playoff round.
They are on course to finish as best of the rest once again this term, currently seven points ahead of Livingston, although Davie Martindale’s men have a game in hand. This campaign has brought more injury problems for the Jambos, so they will have used more players than last season out of necessity. Neilson has always looked for quality over quantity when it comes to transfer dealings, and it paid off for him in 2021/22 as the Tynecastle boss kept things tight.
