Hearts manager Daniel Stendel insists Ryo Meshino still has a part to play between now and the end of the season.
The on-loan Manchester City attacking midfielder has only featured in four of the 13 games that Stendel has overseen, his last outing coming in the 3-3 draw at St Johnstone on February 1.
The Japanese playmaker earned praise after scoring a stunning goal in the stalemate with Aberdeen in the last game of 2019 but his call-up to his national team’s under-23 squad the following month has subsequently left him having to make his way back up the pecking order.
While his team-mates were being put through a crash course by Stendel in how to pay his high-pressing game during the winter break, the 21-year-old was with his country at the AFC Championship in Thailand.
However, Stendel, who did not even name Meshino in his last two match-day squads, admits he is happy with the player’s determination to force his way back into his plans.
Stendel, whose team face Rangers in Saturday's Scottish Cup quarter-final, said: “The thing is not the quality from Meshino.
“We started in January to do things together and learn what we need to do more. He was not here at that time.
“In the last few weeks, we have had no time to train (with so many games).
“We trained with ten players only in the recovery session at times.
“It is difficult to bring him in and we tried against St Johnstone.
“I can say he has worked hard in training. This is a really good attitude because it is not easy when you expect to play and you do not play, or you are not even in the squad.
“He is still working hard to come back into the squad to play.”
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