'Peter Haring, COVID testing, injuries and John Souttar's hair' - What we learned as Hearts returned to pre-season training ahead of 2020/21 campaign

Hearts returned to pre-season this morning, nearly 11 weeks before they begin their Championship campaign with a home fixture against Dundee.

Players trained in small groups throughout the day to limit contact due to the Covid-19 protocols.

Oriam has been kitted out with social distancing signs and others requesting staff wash hands, enter certain doors and wear gloves or face masks when necessary.

On arrival at the training facility players were stopped at a screening/testing station with temperatures taken before allowed entry.

Head coach Robbie Neilson is planning an intensive pre-season, which could involve nine friendlies, so the players are raring to go come the start of October.

The Betfred Cup group stage begins before the league campaign gets underway and then the Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Hibs which could take place at Hampden Park at the end of October.

The first day of training involved a range of tests, some of which surprised and challenged players.

Harry Cochrane told HeartsTV: “I’m delighted, honestly. I think it is groups of eight just now and what a laugh. It was brilliant today.

"It’s hard work, plenty of hard work. That was one of the toughest days I’ve had. Some of the tests I’ve never done before, it was solid.”

Fitness baselines

Fitness testing provides important metrics for the short and medium-term, and allows the club’s medical staff to gather valuable data which could help with future injuries.

Bob McCunn, head of performance, said: “The main purpose behind today is a series of fitness tests which we are doing partly to see how the guys have coped and trained over lockdown but primarily it is a case of us getting some baseline measurements so as or when injuries happen throughout the season, hopefully there is not too many of them, but as and when they happen we have some values to refer back to when it comes to going through the returning to play process.

"We've seen everyone when they got their initial Covid tests last week but obviously this is a bit more of a normal environment with training activities and fitness testing going on. It’s definitely a bit easier having them in small groups and gives us a chance to chat to them a little bit longer rather than ‘how are you doing’?”

Players were put through their paces with even Michael Smith, someone many fans regard as one of the fittest players in the team, reduced to lying on the ground trying to get his breath back.

"It's where everybody makes an impression on the manager,” captain Steven Naismith told HeartsTV. “That’s effectively what’s happening now.

"Everyone has to work hard and I think every year I’ve been here I say to the young boys the first indicator is coming back fitter than the rest. That is what the manager will go off to start with. That will plant a seed.

"I think the majority of boys have come back in good shape. We've now got a longer period before competitive football starts. I'm sure there will be a lot of work, fitness and tactical work that goes on from now until then.”

Berra’s hair question

There was also time for players to reconnect face-to-face after such a long period with Christophe Berra questioning John Souttar’s new hairstyle, imploring him to get it cut and querying if his fellow centre-back has had work done on his hair.

Two welcome faces at Oriam included Craig Gordon and Peter Haring.

The former arrived on a free contract earlier this summer following the expiry of his Celtic deal and was wearing the No.1 on his training gear he, Colin Doyle and Zdenek Zlamal worked on their own specific routines.

Meanwhile, Haring is further behind than his colleagues as he builds his way back to fitness having not played in more than 14 months. The Austrian took part in some light jogging.

A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers – and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.