Ellis Simms has told the Daily Record he believes he secured the ‘perfect’ loan transfer in January by leaving Everton and securing regular minutes in the Premiership with Hearts.
The Toffees agreed to send Simms to Edinburgh during the recent winter market after he struggled to earn senior games. Rafa Benitez only afforded the striker one appearance for 62 minutes against Chelsea in December over his six-and-a-half months at Goodison Park.
Benitez included the 21-year-old in one of his matchday squads on seven other occasions, but left him on the bench. He also only awarded Simms his senior Everton debut away to Chelsea after a spate of injuries and illnesses forced the Spaniard into making five changes.
Additionally, Duncan Unsworth omitted the forward from the matchday squad for his sole match as caretaker manager against Aston Villa. Simms then sealed his half-season loan to Hearts previous to Frank Lampard taking over the Everton helm on transfer deadline day.
But moving from Merseyside to Tynecastle Park has proven beneficial for the Oldham-born gem. He has already amassed 12 appearances and four goals in all competitions, including three in 10 Premiership fixtures. Simms has started seven of his Scottish top-flight outings.
Ellis Simms hails Hearts loan as ‘perfect’ as Everton talent thrives in Scotland
Hearts represents Simms’ second loan transfer from Everton after joining Blackpool for the second half of last season. The former England U18 talent helped fire the Seasiders to the League One play-off final with 10 goals in 23 games, but missed the final through injury.
He only returned from groin surgery in September, yet even then he was not fully fit and needed until November. Now, Simms is thriving with Hearts and relishing his latest spell away from Everton in what he believes has proven to be the ideal loan transfer for him.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Simms stated. “Coming on loan is about playing, and that’s what I’ve managed. I’ve [scored] four goals from 12 games and, hopefully, there’s more to come. It’s about developing as a player and this is perfect.”