Ian Black would relish return of Hartley to Tynecastle

HEARTS midfielder Ian Black admits he was inspired by Paul Hartley when they used to go head-to-head - now he would love to line up alongside him at Tynecastle.

Manager Jim Jefferies is weighing up a move to bring the 2006 Scottish Cup winner back to Gorgie after being told he can land the homesick playmaker on a free transfer from Bristol City.

Even though the arrival of Hartley would intensify the battle of starting places in the middle of the park, Black reckons the Scotland internationalist's guile could prove vital in their bid to get back into Europe.

Speaking as Hearts launched their new strips for the forthcoming campaign, the former Inverness player - donning the Ajax-style home kit - said: "It would be great if Paul came, he is an experienced player.

"He has played at the highest level and is an internationalist as well. It would be great to play alongside him. I played against him when I was at Inverness, he is a great player and a hard player to play against. He is clever, it would be great if he comes in.

"We have a quality squad and we're capable but the gaffer might want to add to things. It's up to him but there is quality in the squad throughout."

Hearts have just returned from a gruelling seven-day pre-season work-out in the Italian town of Il Ciocco and Black hopes being pushed to their physical limits in the searing heat will ensure they get out of the blocks fast in the new campaign.

Defender Lee Wallace has said a lack of match fitness at the start of last term under then manager Csaba Laszlo was a factor in finishing the campaign in a disappointing sixth place.

Black added: "If we can get off to a flyer it will be great then it's all about consistency, trying to win every week.

"The boys are fit, they're looking fit and running well.

"It's a wee while yet so the gaffer will keep us going and make sure we're buzzing for the first game.

"The gaffer is great, he is hard but he is fair. All the boys enjoy it and he is really good. (Gary) Locke and Billy (Brown) are good as well."

Jefferies has signed towering striker Kevin Kyle and welcomed Falkirk captain Darren Barr to the squad in the hope that the pair can help the Tynecastle outfit can become the third force in Scottish football.

Former Kilmarnock boss Jefferies - who masterminded Hearts' 1998 Scottish Cup final triumph - also has his eyes on silverware and Black shares his ambitions.

"Obviously top six is a target but we want to achieve more than what we did last year by finishing higher.

"We want to have good cup runs and maybe a final and some silverware," said Black. "We're a big club and who knows?

"We're going to push for things and I'm sure we'll do well."

Hearts new 'Ajax'-style home kit bears a striking resemblance to the strip worn by Jefferies during his Hearts career in the 70s.

Black added: "The new kit is nice, it's a strip. As long as you have a strip in the starting eleven for the first game, that's the main thing. It does not matter how it looks."