New Hearts loan signing Danny Wilson admits his long-term future is likely to be away from Liverpool - but he believes he has improved as a player since moving to Anfield.

Wilson has made only nine first-team appearances for Liverpool since his multi-million pound move from Rangers in July 2010.

Then 18, Wilson had played 25 times for the Ibrox club, including in the Champions League, and won Scottish Premier League and League Cup winners' medals in his only season in the first team.

But he has no regrets about making the switch despite admitting his Anfield career looks likely to end when his contract expires in the summer.

"I wouldn't say it backfired," said Wilson, who made his Hearts debut in Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Celtic 24 hours after signing until the end of the campaign.

"I didn't play as much as I hoped when I went down there. But it served its purpose.

"I left Rangers with the intention to become a better football player. I feel I have done that so I don't think it backfired.

"I don't regret anything. I made the decision at the time and I have to stand by my decision. I've learned things that I don't know if I would have learned.

"I was playing against better players in training, the likes of (Luis) Suarez. You can only learn from that. I just want to put what I had into practice in games now."

Wilson, who has five full caps for Scotland, has not played under Brendan Rodgers and does not expect to.

"It's going to be difficult for me to have a future at Liverpool," the 21-year-old said.

"They have four centre-backs there who are fighting for two positions really. You see players who played in past seasons not playing as much now.

"I have not really managed to force my way in. My only thinking now is to get out and play and what happens, happens.

"But that's not for me to decide, if Brendan Rodgers wants me. If not I will do what's best for me, and what's best for me now is to be playing football."

Wilson only played a few minutes in his recent loan move to Bristol City, although a minor hamstring problem cut short his stay.

And he is just concentrating on playing first-team games rather than looking further ahead, with Saturday's Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final against Inverness next up.

"I'm not really thinking too much into the future, I'm just thinking about the here and now," Wilson said.

"I've not played much football recently so the most important thing is to get out and play.

"I'm at Hearts now and I am focusing on doing as well as I can for them.

"I'm a footballer who just wants to play football. I'm going to be out of contract and it's better for me to be playing.

"Whichever way it looks, whether it's a shop window or to do well at Hearts, I'm here to do both and hopefully they marry together."

Wilson would not rule out a longer-term stay at Hearts, but the club could struggle to put together a deal given they are set to further cut their playing budget in the summer.

"I don't see why not," when asked about the possibility of staying at Tynecastle.

"Time will tell. I need to do well first and foremost, I can't just assume I will be here for a few years. I need to earn that right.

"Anything that happens, happens, but the next few weeks and months are the most important thing for me right now."