First team

PART OF THE PROCESS

16 July 2023

Steven Naismith cited this afternoon’s defeat to Wigan Athletic as “all part of the process.”

 

The Jambos couldn’t replicate midweek’s victory at Fleetwood Town, going down 3-0 to the Latics at the Lancashire Football Association. 

 

Our Technical Director remains quietly confident though that Hearts are progressing as pre-season continues.

 

“It was good. A 120-minute game which was always going to be the toughest point of pre-season at this moment in time,” he explained to Hearts TV.

 

"The players have worked really hard and probably came into this game slightly fatigued. It’s all part of the process. The stuff that we’ve been working on, you can see that we’re getting more confident in. It’s becoming second nature rather than something that they’re constantly having to think about doing.

 

“We’ve been a threat, albeit not had as much of that something in the final third as we should have had. On the whole, it’s been really good work over the last week and we’ll continue on. We’re in a good place.

 

“Hopefully in the coming weeks, we’ll have a few new additions and a few of the boys who have been out injured will be coming back as well. Fitness-wise, we’re getting there. On the sharpness, we’re at a point which is normal at this time of pre-season."