Hearts players gearing up for gruelling training camp as fans snap up briefs

HEARTS’ players have been warned to steel themselves for a boot camp – and not a holiday camp – when they head to Spain for pre-season training.

The Tynecastle side gathered together yesterday for the first time since bringing the curtain down on last term with their agonising Scottish Cup final defeat to Rangers.

They face a huge campaign ahead, with record numbers of fans snapping up season tickets in excitement at the prospect of European football and another push for domestic silverware.

And, despite being praised for returning in ‘good shape’ after just a month off, Robbie Neilson’s squad have been promised an intensive workout and triple sessions when they fly out to the Malaga region of Spain on Friday.

The Jambos’ head of performance, Bob McCunn, said: “We’re lucky we’re going to a nice part of the world, where the weather is going to be nice.

“But, make no mistake, it’s not going to be a holiday for anybody – staff or players. These camps are usually pretty hectic, pretty busy, and we’ll have multiple pitch sessions a day for the players.

“They’ll have a minimum of three sessions throughout the day and we’ve also tried to time them so we’re not training right at the peak of the day when the weather’s going to be absolutely scorching.

“You’ve got meals to fit in around that, tactical meetings, physio treatments, so it will be super busy for everyone.

“But it’s a great location and a great chance for everyone to just be together, which is the other part of it. From a team bonding point of view, [it’s] brilliant.”

Meanwhile, Neilson has hailed fans after season-ticket sales hit a 16-year high following brisk business when general sales started yesterday morning.

Neilson said: “The boys reported back for pre-season training [on Tuesday] and to hear that we’ve already sold 14,000 season tickets is nothing short of incredible.

“It gives everyone here a huge lift ahead of what will be a massive season for the club.”