Injury lay-off worked out well for Hearts' Jonsson

Yet his blossoming this season owes much to the emergence of a certain youngster.

"Craig Thomson is the best thing that's happened to me," laughs Jonsson, mindful that he would probably still be playing right-back had Thomson not adjusted so seamlessly to first-team football.

Surgery on a torn stomach muscle in late August forced Jonsson onto the sidelines and prompted Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo to rethink pre-season plans for the team's utility man to adopt right-back as his permanent home.

The injury created an opening for 18-year-old Thomson, who was quickly promoted and performed with maturity beyond his tender years. By the time Jonsson regained fitness in mid-October, his deputy was undroppable.

Jonsson never did feel comfortable on the right of defence. He long hankered after a place in central midfield, the position in which he graduated from the Hearts youth academy.

Against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 28 November he started in his preferred role, scored and performed imperiously in a 2-1 victory. He has seldom had cause to look back.

Another goal arrived the following week at Hamilton as the player began a sequence of consistently dominant midfield displays which continued at Easter Road on Sunday.

It says much for his influence that, with Thomson currently sidelined with a knee complaint, Laszlo chose to shunt Ismael Bouzid out to right-back and even handed a debut to the unknown Lithuanian Marius Cinikas against Hibernian.

Clearly, Jonsson is now considered an irreplaceable component of the Hearts engine room.

"I've waited long enough for a chance to play there," he said in an interview with the Evening News .

"Last season I was playing everywhere. It's good to get a chance in centre mid and I just want to make sure that I use it properly.

"It's pleasing that we're getting results while I'm playing in that position. We're unbeaten in five games now.

"December was a big month for us and getting a draw at Easter Road was a decent result because it's a hard place to go. It keeps our run going so I'm happy the team is doing well again and getting up the table.

"Thommo coming into the team has been great for me. I started the season at right-back, then I got injured and needed the operation. I was out for a few weeks and, when I was fit again, Thommo was in at right-back and doing well.

"I was pleased I didn't have to go back in there and I could concentrate on getting into midfield. Finally, I got in but I can't get slack now. This is where I want to stay.