Thu Sep 12 13:20:48 UTC 2024: ## Former Hearts Striker Urges Club to Target Second Place Despite Rough Start

**Edinburgh, Scotland** – Former Heart of Midlothian striker Kevin Kyle has urged his former club to set their sights on a second-place finish, despite a disastrous start to the season. Manager Steven Naismith has faced intense scrutiny following a winless opening to the Scottish Premiership campaign.

Kyle, who played for both Hearts and Rangers, believes the team should always aim for third place, but this season presents a unique opportunity to challenge Rangers, who are also struggling. “They (Hearts) are off to a horrendous start,” Kyle told STV Sport. “But I think this season, looking at the way Rangers are, there is no reason to say Hearts shouldn’t be up there challenging.”

While acknowledging the pressure on Naismith, Kyle believes the club should give him time to turn things around. “He is a young manager and sometimes it isn’t straightforward for young managers who finish playing and then jump straight into management,” he said. “Whether he gets the time or not is up to him, if he starts getting results again he’ll be fine, but if he doesn’t then the Hearts board will have a decision to make.”

The 43-year-old emphasized the importance of results for the club, saying “Hearts need to be winning games and ultimately finishing third each year.”

This call for a strong performance comes at a time of increasing pressure on the manager and the club. The team’s recent struggles have led to growing discontent amongst fans, and the club’s board will be closely watching Naismith’s performance in the coming weeks.

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