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“He’s a smart, intelligent player that’ll definitely come in useful for all the players not just the new players,” Williams told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“With his intelligence the balls that he’ll play are second to none and I’m sure the creativity he’ll get in the middle of the park will be superb.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Williams, himself a recent  high profile recruit from Sydney FC to the red and whites.

Fred’s has spent the last couple of weeks training with Heart and his arrival – along with Williams, Mate Dugandzic and Brazilian striker Maycon – offers a different edge going forward compared to the more experienced attack of last season.

“It’s a totally different type of team [than last season] with players coming in that have something different to offer, although losing the Sibon, Aloisi and Skoko from last season was a big hole… it’s all up in the air but I think we can do well,” added Williams.

Fred was unveiled today at AAMI Park and Heart coach John van’t Schip said the former Victory and DC United player’s arrival was a key part of the team’s strategy.

And he echoed Williams’ assessment that at 31, the former Victory star’s experience will be vital in a relatively young squad.

“With the team and squad that we have now Fred is a player that we really can use. Not only as a player but also because at his age he has experience with him and he will be very important as a player gelling the younger players and older players together," he said. 

“Another advantage is that with his experience abroad and the languages that he speaks he can be a big help to help the other signings that we have.

“It’ll make it easier for us as a coaching staff to make use of Fred in explaining some other things to the players. That will be a very important role. But above all else is his quality.

“Seeing him train a few times now, he’s still very sharp and fit and also happy to be back.”

Heart also took the opportunity today to unveil their third kit to the media.

 The charcoal grey shirt with red and white sash was designed by fan Steve Forbes and will be used in the away tie against Central Coast Mariners.

Forbes said he’d already started posting different kit designs to Heart’s website since last year. 

“And that design was probably the most popular of them all,” he said of the winning design (pictured).

In today’s team shot at AAMI Park new second keeper Nikola Roganovic was included after signing for Heart from VPL champions Green Gully.

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