Makenzie Kirk: St Johnstone Forward Faces Former Club Hearts

Makenzie Kirk’s potential performance on Sunday could exacerbate Hearts’ current Premiership difficulties, which were intensified by their Conference League elimination on Thursday. The 20-year-old concluded his tenure at Tynecastle after a loan spell at Hamilton, where he contributed to their promotion from League 1, before being transferred to St Johnstone this summer for an undisclosed fee. Initially serving as a regular substitute under former manager Craig Levein, Kirk, who works alongside his father Andy, the Saints assistant and a former Hearts striker, has since started the last four matches under new manager Simo Valakari. He has responded with three goals during this period, including two in his most recent two appearances. The Edinburgh-born Northern Ireland Under-19 forward is expected to be confident in increasing his goal tally, considering Neil Critchley’s side has recorded only one clean sheet in their last nine league games and achieved just one victory in nine matches overall. However, despite Kirk’s contributions, St Johnstone has secured only one win in their last seven outings. They currently sit one position and one point above their hosts, who are at the bottom of the league, as both clubs have seen the initial boost from their new managerial appointments quickly fade. Kirk and St Johnstone will contend with a challenging historical record, as Saints have suffered four consecutive defeats at Tynecastle since their 1-0 win in December 2019. Conversely, Hearts have emerged victorious in their last seven encounters with St Johnstone since a 2-1 loss in February 2022. Hearts are particularly motivated to compensate for their recent failure to secure a win against lower-ranked visitors, which would have ensured their progression in Europe beyond Christmas for the first time in 36 years. Should Kirk play a role in ending Hearts’ winning streak in this fixture, it would further fuel existing questions regarding the recruitment policies at his former club.