Hearts draw fitness plan

HEARTS manager Jim Jefferies has warned his players they face a gruelling pre-season training camp as he bids to knock them into shape for the new campaign.

Jefferies will take his squad to his favoured summer base at Il Ciocco in Tuscany for a seven-day stay beginning on 10 July.

The players will endure double training sessions each day and a local closed-door friendly match has also been pencilled in to round off the week.

"It's a place I know very well and the facilities are superb," Jefferies told Hearts News.

"The folk are very friendly and the food's excellent as well. I took Hearts there the last time I was here and also went a number of times with Kilmarnock. It's an ideal base for a pre-season training camp and we'll be working the boys hard, that is assured. One thing's for sure – the players will be fit by the time the season starts."