IAN Cathro, the Hearts manager, has ruled out a loan move for Rangers' Michael O'Halloran, but said Preston North End's Stevie May was "closer to the profile" of the kind of player he would like to add before the end of the January transfer window. Hearts have been as active as any Scottish club during this window, with Aaron Hughes, Andraz Struna, Lennard Sowah and Malaury Martin all joining the club, and Igor Rossi, Robbie Muirhead, Alim Ozturk, Tony Watt all going out. With Arnaud Djoum and Feycal Rherras absent on Africa Cup of Nations duty, and Callum Paterson sidelined with a serious knee injury, it has been a time of much change in the Tynecastle squad but Cathro last night denied that he had ripped things up and started again.

"I am aware that we have perhaps done more than other clubs but nothing has been ripped up," said Cathro. "I don't feel like we have done a lot. It has been individual situations and us trying to do the right thing. Always of course for the club but sometimes as well for people. It really hasn't been drastic. The number is a higher number than maybe we thought but it has not been a drastic thing."

On the speculation linking him with either O'Halloran or Aberdeen target May, he added: "I know Mark [Warburton] had commented on that in his press conference the day before," said Cathro. "But I actually saw him at the manager's meeting earlier in the week and there is nothing in it. I would say he [May] fits the profile of the type of striker we’d maybe like to add. But ultimately there’s been no contact. It’s not something we have moved on or acted on."

The next test in a turbulent start to Cathro's career comes at Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy, for a live televised Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Raith Rovers. His mentor Craig Levein suffered a famous 4-0 cup hiding his at the hands of Falkirk immediately after the winter break back in 2003, but Cathro - whilst taking nothing for granted - doesn't feel it should be fraught tie for his side. A fair number of his new players are likely to start the match.

"I don’t feel that way about it, I just want to go and win," said Cathro. "Everyone is quite clear about what we expect to face. We understand how difficult it will be at the start and if we don’t get it right it get more difficult – and if we do get things right it may become less difficult."