Goncalves reckons graft will be key for Jambos

Attacker Isma Goncalves has admitted Hearts players lacked fitness in the early stages of the season.

A number of players at Tynecastle have hinted at a poor fitness regime under the watch of former head coach Ian Cathro, but that is all changing under the new management.

First Jon Daly and now Craig Levein have been quick to address the problem, and Goncalves suggested the lack of fitness may have been holding Hearts back.

He said: “All the players have said it, we are working more now because I think we were not fit enough, so we are working more on that now.”

When asked if he personally had felt underprepared, he added: “A little bit, all the players did.

“Now we are working more, we can see a difference from before.

“Everybody wants to play, so if you want to play, you have to do what the manager says.”

Levein has wasted no time in shaking up the

“He has a different way of thinking about football”

CHALLENGE: For Peterhead manager Jack Leitch with the Balmoor club