James Hill seals Hearts loan transfer as Bournemouth defender arrives to bolster backline

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Hearts have made their first signing of the January transfer window, adding defender James Hill to their ranks.The 21-year-old joins the Jambos on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season.

Robbie Neilson was in need of defensive reinforcements after Craig Halkett's injury nightmare continued. The defender wasn't long back from a serious hamstring injury when he ruptured his cruciate ligament just two minutes into the 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice on Christmas Eve.He'll now miss the rest of the season, so Neilson has moved to bring in Hill from the south coast club.

He'll provide extra cover in the heart of defence, where Kye Rowles and Toby Sibbick have been operating in the absence of Halkett and Stephen Kingsley, who has also been missing since the United draw after suffering a concussion.

Alex Cochrane has also been utilised on the left of Hearts' back three at times.Neilson said of his new recruit: “I’m happy that we’ve been able to bring James in until the end of the season.“We’ve been unlucky with injuries in defence, and while the guys in there have been performing really well it was always high on our priorities list to get another defender in.“James has fantastic experience of playing at a high level down south and with England U20s and U21s and I’m sure that will stand him in good stead when the time comes for him to play for Hearts.” READ NEXT: