NORWICH City and Scotland forward Steven Naismith is closing in on a loan move to Hearts.

The former Rangers player has been told he can leave Carrow Road, having featured just three times for the Canaries this season before being sidelined with an ankle injury. 

Naismith is keen on a return to Scotland and the 31-year-old is now set to join the Jambos until the end of the campaign, with Craig Levein's side looking to complete a deal in time for Sunday's Scottish Cup tie with Hibernian. 

The 45-time Scotland internationalist was also linked with a January move to former clubs Rangers and Kilmarnock but the Tynecastle outfit appear to have won the race. 

Naismith left the Gers for Everton in 2012 before moving on to Norwich in January 2016.