Why Marc Leonard is the perfect Cammy Devlin replacement, stats tell the story
Hearts are closing in on the signing of Marc Leonard, who is set to join the Jambos on loan until the end of the campaign.
The 24-year-old defensive midfielder will join from Birmingham City after struggling for regular game time this campaign.
Leonard previously played for Hearts in his youth career before he moved to Brighton in 2018.
Now, the midfielder is set to be the perfect replacement for Cammy Devlin, who is currently out injured at Hearts.
A huge blow to Hearts Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup hopes.
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) January 16, 2026
Midfielder Cammy Devlin faces up to eight weeks out with a lower leg injury.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/FzLwVGQ3Ml
Marc Leonard has strikingly similar stats to Cammy Devlin
With Hearts competing for the Scottish Premiership title, it was vital they replaced their injured stars this January.
Lawerance Shankland’s injury was no doubt the biggest blow for Derek McInnes, with the captain out for the foreseeable future.
However, Devlin will also be sorely missed, with the midfielder easily being one of their best players this campaign.
Nevertheless, it appears they have the perfect replacement lined up, with Leonard now undergoing a medical ahead of his proposed loan move to Hearts.
When examining his stats in the Championship on Fotmob, they are extremely similar to those of Devlin’s, with Leonard making 17 appearances in all competitions this season for Birmingham City this season as they target promotion.
Both players are clearly capable defenders, while they are also decent on the ball and can create chances.
While Devlin is better in many of these stats, it is important to remember that the Championship is an extremely tough division to compete in.
Therefore, it would appear that McInnes has found the perfect replacement for Devlin while the Australia international is out on the sidelines.
Can Leonard play in Hearts vs Celtic?
If Hearts get the deal wrapped up for Leonard quickly, there is every chance that he can make his debut for the Jambos against Celtic on Sunday.
The match is arguably the biggest game of the season for the Jambos to date, with the chance to pull nine points clear of the Hoops with a win.
Therefore, ensuring Leonard is eligible for the match could be crucial to picking up three points.
However, if the Jambos get the signing over the line quickly, they will need to make sure that his registration is completed before the deadline.