Hearts to play Blackburn Rovers in Gorgie

BLACKBURN ROVERS will visit Tynecastle for a friendly on Saturday, 7 August, allowing Hearts to complete their pre-season schedule with a high-profile double header against English Premier League opposition, writes BARRY ANDERSON.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are due in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 3 August and, with Blackburn now confirmed for four days later, Hearts are guaranteed to be well tested ahead of the SPL season commencing on Saturday, 14 August.

The Lancashire club, managed by Sam Allardyce, are pursuing the signature of outgoing Rangers striker Kris Boyd and their squad already contains reputable names like Paul Robinson, Morten Gamst Pedersen, El Hadji Diouf and David Dunn.

The match will kick off at 3pm and follows friendlies against Dunfermline, Gillingham, Millwall and Wolves in Jim Jefferies' pre-season schedule.

The players are to report to Riccarton for the start of pre-season training on 7 July, and will depart for a week-long training camp at Il Ciocco in Tuscany, Italy, three days later.