Hearts of Midlothian are working against the clock to have Ugandan forward Rogers Mato available for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash against champions Celtic.
What was initially expected to be a summer move from North Macedonian side Vardar has now been fast-tracked, with Hearts manager Derek McInnes confirming that the 22-year-old will arrive in Scotland later this month.
However, it remains uncertain whether Mato will be registered in time to feature against Celtic this weekend.
“We have an opportunity to add some signings because Sunday’s game is a huge one,” McInnes told the media.
“We want to be strong not just for that match, but for the rest of the season as well.
“Hopefully we can get Mato in for the weekend if possible.”
“What we do know is that he’s coming this month, and the club deserves credit for negotiating the deal.”
McInnes also expressed optimism about the forward’s potential impact.
“Mato is a talented player and we are hopeful he can help us a lot in the second half of the season,” he added.
For Mato to be eligible to play against Celtic, all documentation must be completed on Friday.
Hearts have been forced to reassess their plans in the January transfer window following an injury to captain and leading striker Lawrence Shankland.
The forward, who has scored 11 goals to lead the Scottish Premiership scoring charts, is expected to be sidelined for around two months.
As a result, the Edinburgh club opted to pay a fee, yet to be disclosed, for Mato rather than wait until the summer, when he would have been available as a free agent.
Interestingly, Mato arrives with an impressive scoring record of his own, having netted 12 goals in North Macedonia this season, making him the top scorer at his current club.
Whether he features against Celtic or not, Hearts will be hoping the Ugandan international can provide a timely boost as they navigate a crucial period in the campaign.
