Colin Doyle left Bradford City this summer

The 33-year-old is close to completing a move to Tynecastle Park after leaving Bradford City at the end of last season.

Hearts manager Craig Levein signed American keeper Kevin Silva on a two-year deal last night to compete with Kelby Mason at reserve level. Doyle is wanted to challenge for the first-team No.1 spot alongside the Czech, Zdenek Zlamal. He holds a handful of Ireland caps and played against world champions France in May. At club level, he has represented Bradford, Blackpool, Millwall, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.

Doyle is keen to move to Scotland and, provided there are no issues with his medical, is expected to become the 13th signing of a hectic summer at Hearts.

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Levein’s side began their Betfred League Cup campaign last night with a 2-1 win away at Cove Rangers in Group C. Midfielder Olly Lee and striker Steven MacLean scored their first competitive goals in maroon before Paul McManus reduced the deficit for the Highland League champions late on.

“We played a lot of good stuff and should have scored a lot of goals,” Levein said of the display. “Losing a goal late on was a bit disappointing but I was a bit relaxed about it. I don’t think they had any chances after that.

“This early in the season, these games are always potential banana skins. There have been a lot of surprises since this competition started, and we got caught out last season. It was really important to get off to a winning start.

“If we’d taken the chances we created, it would have been over at half-time. That would’ve made my life easier.”

Levein revealed that new signing MacLean, who often did not play on astroturf pitches with former club St Johnstone, had been nagging him for game time.

“He’s been pestering me for two weeks about playing. It was him who wanted to play,” he said of the striker’s appearance on the synthetic surface at Cove Rangers’ new Balmoral Stadium.

“This is a brand new surface which made me feel a bit more secure in my decision. Steven was good. He linked the play well and got a goal, which is good for him. He must be pretty happy that he did play.”

Levein was also satisfied with his three-man defence of Peter Haring, John Souttar and Christophe Berra. They played behind wing-backs Callumn Morrison and Jake Mulraney.