Levein: ‘Walker is back... and back to his best’
Craig Levein reckons Hearts fans will see a reborn Jamie Walker next season.
Walker sealed his return to Tynecastle this week after a tough spell at Wigan Athletic and watched the Jam Tarts in friendly action at Arbroath yesterday.
He will get his chance to pull on a maroon jersey when Hearts head to their Irish training camp next week.
And Levein reckons Walker will be at his best after surgery to correct a mystery knee problem.
“I’m glad to get him back,” said Levein. “He’s got a history of scoring goals in the Premiership.
“He’s had a problem with his knee for a while, but finally they got to the bottom of it and removed two chunks of bone which had grown underneath his patella tendon.
“He’s had them out and he’s feeling great.
“I’ve no doubt that hampered him, so I feel that he’ll be fresh and ready to go.
“But there are a lot who weren’t here in Arbroath today that I’m excited about getting on the field.
“That will happen next week in Ireland.
“Between Monday and Saturday we should get just about everybody back.”
Having made Walker his fourth summer signing, Levein may look to add another one or two players this summer.
But the Hearts gaffer insists he is over the moon with the quality he has already been able to add to his squad.
“I’m quite content just now,” he said.
“Steven Naismith will join us at some point, and Aidy White has been back in full training for some time, so he’s almost like a new player.
“Then we’ve got Conor Washington, Craig Halkett and Jamie, so I’m happy with the quality we’ve brought in.
“It gives us more attacking options.”
Arbroath were the more successful attacking outfit in yesterday’s pre-season opener at Gayfield.
Levein fielded a different team in each half on the Angus coast, both of which were mostly made up of young players.
The Lichties, who are preparing for a crack at the Championship this season, took advantage.
But Levein was pleased to have given so many youngsters game time than concerned with how the match played out.
“There were some good things in the game,” he said.
“We didn’t move the ball quick enough, we did a lot of things quite poorly as well, but I was happy to get through it.
“The only injury we got was young Jay Sandison, who had a problem with his hamstring.
“But it was good for the young kids to get an opportunity to play, and they did OK.
“I’m reasonably happy with it.”