Norwich City have confirmed on the club's official website that Steven Naismith has left the club on loan.

Steven Naismith joins Scottish Premiership side Hearts on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

The Scotland international signed for Norwich from Everton in January 2016 with high expectations and he netted on his debut against Liverpool in a crazy 5-4 loss.

He has played a total of 48 games for the Canaries in his two year stint with the club, scoring eight times.

Naismith was frozen out of the Norwich team this season, playing just three games under Daniel Farke.

His last outing was in August and he has spent chunks of this season out injured as well as just being out of favour and not getting a look in.

The 31-year-old was strongly linked with a move away this month and he has completed a return to Scotland.

Naismith joins Hearts on a half season loan deal to help them in the Scottish Premiership.

Hearts currently sit fifth in the top tier of Scottish football but trail third placed Rangers by ten points.

Naismith, who is able to play as a striker or anywhere in the attacking midfield line, is the fifth player to leave Norwich this January after Alex Pritchard moved to Huddersfield, Cameron Jerome moved to Derby and Russell Martin and Yanic Wildschut departed on loan.

The Verdict

Naismith needed a move away from Norwich because he is not getting a look in. And Norwich fans will be pleased to see him go because he has not hit the heights expected of him during his time at Carrow Road. With his wages now off the books, perhaps a new player can come in.