Naismith thinks Hearts are growing stronger week after week.

“Earlier in the season, the results Hearts were getting were not from big performances,” he said.

“There were mistakes in there, Motherwell played them off the park for 60 minutes, so they were winning in different ways.

“But the last few performances, the derby game wasn’t a pleasant watch, but their performances are becoming more complete.

“Their forward players make the right choices at the right times and that’s what happened tonight for the second and third goal.

This was not a 3-0 game on performances. It was individual mistakes and poor quality which led to giving Hearts opportunities that they snatched out the hands of Kilmarnock.”

Naismith pointed to the depth of squad available to McInnes.

“When the window shut you maybe thought the squad is too big, but I don’t think you could get a better manager to manage that,” he said.

“I think guys are coming off the bench and they’re hungry and the guys on the pitch are showing ‘I’m not coming out the team’. The real change is they have match winners in their team.”

What of the suggestion Hearts are now at least favourites to finish second?

“I wouldn’t say they are favourites, but with a bit of luck they can finish second this season,” Naismith said.

“In coming seasons, it will be a three-horse race.

“As the seasons go on, they will progressively get further away from the best of the rest and that gap will continue to close.

“The signings they are making are guys who are untapped who are minimum risk because the data backing that. They also have the fan base to grow with it. That’s why it’s such an exciting time.”

What possibility a title challenge this season?

“If they get to January and they are still in the mix, they may have reinforcements to come in,” Naismith added.

“Then, if it gets to March time and they are right in the mix, the pressure all pushes away from Hearts and totally on to the Old Firm because there is an expectation that they come first and second.”