Goals from Alan Forrest and James Wilson, plus an own goal, allowed Hearts to round off their pre-season training camp with a 3-1 victory over Crawley Town in Spain.
Sussex-based Crawley, who compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English league system, reduced the deficit to 2-1 before half-time, but the Jambos saw the game out at La Finca and Lawrence Shankland was introduced for the last 20 minutes of the game providing him with valuable pitch time.
Hearts’ head coach, Derek McInnes, told the club’s social media that he was pleased with what he has seen during the week-long workout in Spain.
The boss added: “It is always nice to win, and for the players to get the reward for hard work.”
The camp, he added, had been “an absolute joy” and he said that the players on the trip “have knocked their pan in”.
McInnes admitted that it had been difficult to manage the playing time in Spain with more than 20 players on the trip and focusing on the vicory against Crawley, McInnes said it was very competitive and Hearts stood up to the challenge.
He added: “We were playing against a team who wanted to dominate the ball and remain in possession. Our press was good, our effort to win the ball back was terrific, and I thought there were signs about the team we want to be.
“(It was) good to score from a set play, good to score three goals, James Wilson’s goal was top class, and we could have had one or two more. Happy with the effort, happy with the week and it is just over two weeks since we came back to The Oriam.
“We have a good few training sessions before we play Dunfermline at Tynecastle.”
Hearts have a closed doors game before they meet The Pars on Saturday, July 12 (17.15) in the Scottish League Cup, and, reflecting on the week in Spain, the new boss added: “I’ve had a look at the lads, they have had a look at us (the coaching staff) and what we are demanding from them.
“Everybody is bursting to play their part and they (the players) have given me and the staff selection problems. That is the way it should be at a club like Hearts. There should be competition to play, and I believe we have got that.”
Overall, he added: “We are getting there, but we are not perfect, by a long shot, and, with a couple of additions, I think you would see a better balance overall. The lads we have been working with have been outstanding in terms of their effort.”
However, he indicated that some players in the squad will be moving on once the competitive action begins as he admitted: “We are a bit overloaded in certain areas.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Men in Maroon have two transfer targets, Burkina Faso international, Pierre Landry Kabore, who is playing in Estonia, and Albanian winger Sabah Kerjota who is currently with an Italian club.
And McInnes confirmed that AEK Athens have met the valuation placed on 26-year-old, Livingston-born defender, James Penrice, by the Tynecastle club. He described the potential move, reported to be in the region of £2m, as a “fantastic opportunity” for the player signed by Hearts as a free transfer from Livingston, and a man who had an outstanding first season at Gorgie.
McInnes said: “It looks as if he will be leaving. For that I am sad, but pleased for the boy.”
