HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN
IN: Jamie Walker (Wigan Athletic), Conor Washington (Sheffield United), Craig Halkett (Livingston), Aidy White.
OUT: Arnaud Djoum (Al-Raed), Conor Sammon (Falkirk), Marcus Godinho (Zwickau), Ryan Edwards (Burton Albion), Daniel Baur (loan; Bonnyrigg Rose), Aaron Hughes, David Vanecek, Malaury Martin.
KEY MAN: CHRISTOPHE BERRA. Hearts suffered while their captain, among others, was out injured last term but Berra will be key in integrating Craig Halkett into the defence, as well as providing further tutelage for John Souttar.
KEY ADDITION: CONOR WASHINGTON. This could prove a shrewd piece of business by Craig Levein to bring the firepower after Hearts managed just 42 league goals last season.
AFTER their fast start last season, where Hearts won eight of their first ten league matches — losing just once, to Rangers — hopes were high of a title challenge with Craig Levein at the helm. However, injuries to key players towards the end of October, through the festive period and beyond put an end to that. Hearts have retained the bulk of their squad from last season, with the departure of Arnaud Djoum the only real loss of a first-team regular. Levein got his business done early in the summer window, bringing in the likes of Conor Washington, Craig Halkett and the returning Jamie Walker. Walker returns after an underwhelming 18-month spell with Wigan, where he spent the first half of last season on loan at Peterborough, making just 12 league appearances. The 26-year-old returns to Tynecastle knowing what the club — and the fans — expect. Having reached the Scottish Cup final in May, the Gorgie faithful will demand another trip to Hampden this term at least. Improvement on last season’s sixth-place finish will be sought, too, especially after seeing bitter rivals Hibernian leapfrog them towards the end of the previous campaign. Levein made his ‘natural order’ jibe in January last year after Hearts beat Hibs but, by the end of both league campaigns, it was the Easter Road side who finished on top. Given the number of injuries they suffered at a critical time last term, this could prove to be a make-or-break campaign for the Tynecastle legend. Levein has done plenty of talking off the park but his players are yet to come up with the goods come the end of each season. If Hearts can keep their first XI fit over the course of the season, then they will prove a difficult side to beat, especially at home.