Hearts have completed the signing of Stuart Findlay after the ex- Kilmarnock defender re-united with boss Derek McInnes. The 29-year-old has spent the last two seasons working under McInnes at Rugby Park on loan from Oxford United, with his move to Tynecastle also being a season-long loan from the English Championship side. Findlay had previously enjoyed two more loan stints in Ayrshire prior to signing permanently in 2018 with his performances having earned him his solitary Scotland cap. He departed for Philadelphia four years ago before returning to Rugby Park. Injury interrupted his latest stint as he was limited to just 17 league appearances last term despite being the club’s highest earner. Over his five separate stints in East Ayrshire, he amassed 214 appearances. Prior to taking over as Hearts boss, McInnes heaped praise on Findlay for making everyone around him a better player, saying: “He doesn’t always catch the eye, and he’s not exactly dribbling out and making chances and all the rest of it, but he’s such a calming influence. “That ability for a centre-half to make people round about them better is a dying art, because so many boys now just want to play their own game and look after themselves, but he does it in such a quiet effective way.” While a return for the defender was unlikely, it means Killie have lost arguably their two best centre-backs in the summer after Player of the Year Joe Wright departed for Bradford City. Lewis Mayo and Robbie Deas - both of whom have played regularly as full-backs during the last two seasons - are currently the only senior centre-backs at the club. Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here