Scottish international and Hearts’ longest-serving player, Neilson, is a defensive linchpin with bags of energy
With 12 years service at Tynecastle under his belt, Neilson is Hearts longest-serving player and provides a welcome sense of continuity in the club’s current climate of impermanence.
Neither the quickest nor the silkiest player, the Scottish internationalist is nevertheless energetic, tactically astute, reliable, and above all willing to work his socks off, while his mammoth throw-ins give Hearts an extra attacking dimension.
Injury blighted 2006-07, but he was a regular presence at right-back in 2007-08 and looks likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.