Claudio Braga was described as an "exciting signing" when Hearts boss Derek McInnes landed one of his "top targets" in June.

The Portuguese forward has wasted little time in living up to his billing.

With Jamestown Analytics driving Hearts' recruitment, Braga was identified and plucked from the relative obscurity of Norway's second tier.

He eased into action with three goals in four appearances against lower-league opposition in the League Cup group phase, and has seamlessly become an important cog in the slick Hearts machine that is keeping pace with Celtic at the top of the Premiership table.

The 25-year-old may not have been on the scoresheet in the long-awaited win at Ibrox last weekend, but his influence was unquestionable. The highlight was a lovely pass that unlocked the Rangers defence and found Lawrence Shankland to set Hearts on their way to a 2-0 victory.

Post match, Shankland hailed his team-mate's "really intelligent" work and said their on-field "connection" is improving.

That was Braga's first league assist to go with his three goals so far, a strike tally bettered only by Dundee United's Ivan Dolcek. Braga has twice been denied by the woodwork.

A dig through the Opta stats further illustrates Braga's impact. He has had the most shots (14), shots on target (7), big chances (6) and touches in the opposition box (32) of any player in the Premiership.

Perhaps he could brush up on his finishing - he is slightly underperforming his expected goals (xG) of 3.19 and has missed four big chances.

But that shows the potential is there for even better to come and Braga has already shown versatility and coolness in front of goal - scoring one with his left foot, one with his right, and one with his head.

McInnes' team is no one-man show, though. Fellow new arrivals Alexandros Kyziridis and Stuart Findlay have also caught the eye while Oisin McEntee has been quietly effective.

How 'intelligent' Claudio Braga is lighting up Hearts