McInnes questions Wilson move to Spurs

• Hearts manager Derek McInnes said James Wilson would have been better staying at Hearts than joining Tottenham’s Under-21s.
• Wilson, 18, joined Spurs on deadline day on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy included.
• McInnes said Hearts could not guarantee Wilson minutes, but wanted him to stay and offered a Scotland loan route instead.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes has raised doubts about James Wilson’s deadline day move to Tottenham, saying the teenage forward would have been better staying at Tynecastle and fighting for his place.

Wilson, an 18-year-old Scotland international, joined Spurs on loan until the end of the season, with the agreement including an option to buy for the London club. The move came after reported interest from Arsenal.

Wilson has scored eight goals in 45 appearances since breaking through last season, but has found minutes harder to come by this term as Hearts have surged to the top of the William Hill Premiership.

McInnes said Wilson’s desire to go made it difficult for Hearts to block the move, but he made clear he did not think the destination suited the player’s level.

“James wanted to go, so you don’t want to keep a player who then becomes unhappy,” McInnes said. “I couldn’t guarantee him minutes, such is the way it’s been.

“I told him and his agent, they knew that our preference was to stay, fight for your place, be part of something, we’ll 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 Monday 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.”