MacFarlane hobbles to Hearts

Neil MacFarlane is recovering from knee surgery

Football's new transfer restrictions have lead to Hearts swooping to sign Neil MacFarlane, despite the former Airdrie defender's current fitness problems.

Tynecastle manager Craig Levein has signed the 24-year-old on part-time terms as the player recovers from a knee injury.

Levein, who expects the player to return to action around October, maintains he could not have risked ignoring the player.

"Neil has signed on a year's contract and we are paying him a part-time wage until he gets fit.

"Then we can re-negotiate and see how he does.

I would like to bring in one or two more players before the start of the season

Hearts manager Craig Levein

"I expect him to be fit around October. We could have waited until January but we might have missed out on him - anything could happen between now and the next transfer window.

"The minimal cost will not affect our budget. It is not a bad idea to have this forward planning on our part.

"We won't be making any more deals like this one but I would like to bring in one or two more players before the start of the season."

But while Levein credits the new-style deal, he concedes he was forced to take a chance to combat the Uefa transfer window system for moves.

"The transfer window is a real hindrance for many clubs, especially those with small squads," Levein continued.

"The less money you have got, the worse a problem the windows are."