Head coach Derek McInnes says Hearts are taking the benefits of this week’s warm weather training camp in Spain, ahead of a crucial five matches of the Premiership season.
The Jambos flew out early on Sunday morning for five days of training ahead of the post-split fixtures with McInnes admitting a change of scenery allowing the players to focus on themselves.
“We’re just taking the benefit of being around each other and nice facilities,” he told Hearts TV.
“The weather wasn't too great the first day we arrived. It felt pretty much like the same wind we get at the Oriam, but by and large, since then, it's been really nice and we’re getting some good work done.
“Players being around each other, as we said, the whole purpose of the trip was to get a lot of good from it and try to top up some work for the ones that have not had so much work or game time of late as well as looking after one or two who have had wee knocks.
“It's just a normal week, but just in a different environment, to be honest, and it's nice to get away. I've never really had a camp at this late stage, as a manager, but obviously the winter break was something we used to utilise a lot. I always felt we got a good benefit from that and then came back and and got a lot of good from it in that mid-season time.
“We tried to get away a month ago, so it's a bit late on in terms of doing that, but I just think this week, instead of just training for training's sake back at the Oriam. This has given the training pitches a chance to get a break.
“We just thought a change of scenery, a change of environment, would just allow the players to focus on themselves for a period, because obviously they've all got families, some of them young kids, and all the rigmaroles that come with that. We just thought we'd just get them away and be focused on each other for a while, so we're hoping we get the benefit of it.
“I don't think it does us any harm. It's not going to guarantee any better results, but I certainly think there's more good from it than anything else.”
Some of the Jambos’ injured players also travelled to Spain and McInnes confirmed the club are awaiting the scan results on Oisin McEntee, after he picked up a knock in the weekend win over Motherwell.
“We're still to get word back on Oisin. He is feeling better generally, but the scan results, we got him scanned out here, but unfortunately the scan results came back in Spanish yesterday and we're getting that translated this morning, just to see the extent of it.
“Harry's stepping up his work. Tómas is here, but we know he is up against it to get back playing before the end of the season.
“We're mindful that it's an opportunity to just top up some work for the lads that have not been playing. I do feel that Saturday's game, we had 50% of the outfield team that started, had not been playing a lot of games. Lawrence, Cammy, Beni, Stephen Kingsley, Stuart Findlay.
“Getting the game into their legs was good. We're topping up their work, they're a bit more ready for what's coming, because we know what's coming. There's a lot of demand, a lot of focus on the games coming up, but it's exciting at the same time.
“This is just a wee bit of calmness to be around each other, get the work done, be as best prepared as we can. Next week we have a full working week back in Edinburgh ahead of the Derby game, so there's not going to be any real change to our preparation for that.”
Reflecting on Saturday’s victory over Motherwell, McInnes added:
“It was a good win for us in the end. I thought other than a 15–20-minute period in the second half, we were good value in the game. I thought we were a slightly better team in the first half.
“I thought we did a lot right in the game and restricted Motherwell, a good team, to one or two shots from distance in the first half. But they showed their quality at times in that period, and we just had to ride that bit through.
“I thought we finished the game strong and we got the desired outcome, which was important. To score three goals against Motherwell is not easy and I'm delighted with the belief of the team, the intent of the team, the desire of the team to go to the full 90-plus minutes to get the job done.”
You can watch Derek’s interview in full on Hearts TV.
