To put in the says Hartley

“We need to sharpen things up over the next few weeks and try to improve.

“I’m certain we will improve. The signs are already there. You could see it at Alloa last week.

“We made some changes to the team and we had some players missing, also.

“Friday was all about getting players minutes. We will be better by the time the League Cup comes around.

“We thought because of the new format we had to change our summer.”

Meanwhile, the gaffer’s search for defensive reinforcements goes on, although the Dark Blues have not taken any players on trial to Austria.

Two years ago Paul organised for Luka Tankulic and Thomas Konrad, who later signed permanent deals, to join the squad, on the recommendation of former Hearts boss Czaba Laszlo, at their Budapest training base.

As things stand no such arrangement has been struck, despite the manager searching the length and breadth of the continent for a centre-back.

Despite that, Paul is happy with the make-up of his squad, barring the obvious James McPake-shaped hole in the heart of defence.

“The squad is shaping up nicely”, he said.

“We are nearly where we want to be in terms of the numbers.

“Preparation for us, so far, has been good.”

on the training pitches across the Austrian border in picturesque Obertraun.