Naismith explained decision behind sanctioning Lewis Neilson’s loan switch to Partick Thistle season.

The defender has shone at Firhill since his loan was signed off on by the manager

With 14 matches under his belt as the Jags sit third in the Championship, the Hearts defender has demonstrated that he is more than capable of playing regularly in the Championship. For Naismith, the young prodigy, 20, would have to adjust to playing every week for a squad that expects him to see a lot of the ball in order to develop his attacking position handling. The manager’s intention was for Neilson to eventually return knowing exactly what was expected of him, and Naismith believes that is exactly what has happened.

The player’s challenge now is to maintain his form and add additional skills to his arsenal in order to return to Gorgie and compete for a team berth.

“We needed a team that would have the ball so Lewis could be put in offensive situations.” That implies he must be good in possession as well as deal with transitions defensively. “It’s been fantastic for him,” Naismith told the Edinburgh News.

“Lewis has been around the first team here for a period of time. His game time here was probably going to be limited, so it was about keeping the momentum going for him to grow. You want him to come back here and go, ‘Right, I’m ready to be a first-team regular and I’m going to prove it to you.'”