Hearts boss has no plans to go on defensive

JIM JEFFERIES has declared himself content with Hearts' defensive options ahead of next season as he focuses on adding a new striker and midfielder to the Tynecastle squad.

Despite losing Jose Goncalves on freedom of contract, Jefferies is confident of compensating for the departure of the Portuguese centre-back. He has no intention of recruiting a replacement and will work with the defenders he already has, plus pre-contract signing Darren Barr and returning loanees Ryan McGowan and Jonathan Brown.

"Defence is not an area we're looking to strengthen at the moment," he told the Evening News. "Our priorities lie in the striker and midfield departments and that's what we're concentrating on. Any other name that is thrown at us in another position is just pie in the sky as far as I'm concerned."

McGowan and Brown return to Riccarton following loan spells with Ayr United and Livingston respectively and hope to challenge for first-team football in the SPL. The Hearts defence is expected to be constructed around the Lithuanian international centre-back Marius Zaliukas, who remains favourite for the captain's armband following Michael Stewart's move to Genclerbirligi.

Jefferies is looking to confirm arrangements for a pre-season trip to the Il Ciocco complex in Italy's Tuscany region in early July. This would see the players put through a rigorous fitness programme before returning to the UK for friendlies against Dunfermline Athletic, Millwall and Wolverhampton Wanderers before the new SPL season commences on 14 August.

"We're still looking at that and planning round that. People at the club are making arrangements," said Jefferies. "We're looking to take 25 players, made up of three goalkeepers and 22 players. The rest will be backroom staff."