Manager was keen for teenage striker to remain at Tynecastle
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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has wished James Wilson all the best after his loan switch to Tottenham Hotspur - but he believes the teenage striker “is better than academy football” and has not made the right move.
Wilson, 18, has been out of the first-team picture this season at Hearts, with the Tynecastle club currently top of the Premiership with 13 matches remaining. He has fallen down the pecking order and is behind the likes of Lawrence Shankland, Claudio Braga, Landry Kabore and Elton Kabangu.
A Scotland internationalist, Wilson was linked with Arsenal on deadline day before Spurs swooped in. He will play for their PL2 team for the rest of the season and Thomas Frank’s side have the option to purchase him at the end of the campaign.
“James wanted to go, that has to be said,” explained McInnes after watching Hearts lose 1-0 at St Mirren on Tuesday night. “So you don't want to keep a player who then becomes unhappy. I couldn't guarantee him minutes, such as the way it's been.
"I told him, and his agent knew that our preference was to stay, fight for your place, be part of something, get you a loan in Scotland if need be, if you need to top your minutes up and we can maybe recall you. So you still get the best of both worlds.
"But his head was turned with the Tottenham thing. First of all it was Arsenal, then Arsenal went quiet and then all of a sudden Tottenham came to the table on Tuesday afternoon.
"I don't think it's the right move for him. Ultimately, it's academy football and I think he's better than that. But it was something James wanted to do.
"So like I say, we made it clear that our preference was for him to stay and be part of something here. But he made the decision and I hope it goes well for him because he's a great kid and we'll see how it plays out.
"But for us, I just need to concentrate on the players who are here and who want to be here and who want to play their part."