Naismith issues fitness update on Hearts squad

Steven Naismith, Hearts’ head coach, has issued an injury update ahead of the Tynecastle club’s pre-season challenge against Premiership cracks Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Fans are reminded that it is a 7pm kick-off at Gorgie and several squad players will not be risked, including Stephen Kingsley, Calem Nieuwenhof and newcomer James Penrice.

The head coach confirmed that goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who skippered the side in the first-half of Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to English League Two combine, Leyton Orient, before being substituted by Ryan Fulton, has returned to where he was before he left for the summer recess.

And Naismith said the 41-year-old former Scotland international he has worked really hard and is in a good place. He added: “Craig is working hard like the rest of the squad to get full fitness.”

Aussie midfielder Nieuwenhof has a hamstring issue, which is disappointing for the coaching staff, and Hearts are waiting to see the severity of the injury, but Naismith said: “He will be back in when he is ready.”

Goalkeeper Zander Clark and striker Lawrence Shankland, who were with Scotland squad in the Euros in Germany, were back in last week when Hearts were on pre-season training in Tenerife, and the coach said: “They did some testing and so they are back with us on Monday.”

Kenneth Vargas (picured against Hibs last season), who was in the Costa Rica squad in the Copa America, has time off and Naismith said that rest is important. Kingsley, he added, has tightness in a calf and Hearts don’t want to push him.

Finally, another of the latest recruits, Penrice, had an operation in the later part of last season and has been working hard on his fitness.

Hearts do not want to push him but Naismith said Penrice is eager to be involved and “looking fantastic”. He added: “We must make sure we are not pushing him too much.”