Italian trip is just the job for Jefferies

MOTIVATION, an occasional problem for Hearts teams in recent seasons, is no longer an issue judging by events at Il Ciocco this week. Players have simply launched themselves wholeheartedly into the club's pre-season programme, to the extent where one or two commented on "feeling the benefit" after just one week's training.

Ismael Bouzid, the club's Algerian international defender, believes an ideal mix of youth, experience and new recruits will guarantee an improvement on last year's sixth-place finish in the SPL.

Teenage footballers by their very nature are exuberant and vigorous, as he rightly points out. Add that to the more established faces keen not to be dislodged from the team, plus fresh impetus from new signings Darren Barr and Kevin Kyle, and the recipe for success is simmering rather nicely.

"We had a lot of young players last season and they showed they have the quality to do something for the team," said Bouzid. "The manager has brought some new players who can do something more.

"We are in a very positive situation because the young players want to show something, the new players want to show something and the old players want to show something. Altogether we can achieve something and play better football than last season. I know the league now. I know the quality of the teams, so I know we can do better. Last year we were sixth and, for me, we need to finish in a better position. The team has the quality and we need to show this, but we need to have more consistence over the whole year."

Bouzid became a permanent fixture at centre-back last season as a consequence of some commanding defensive displays. He intends being similarly dominant this year but is aware that securing a regular place in the team may not be so straightforward.

Barr arrived on freedom of contract from Falkirk, where he held the captaincy. Ryan McGowan has returned after augmenting his first-team experience on loan at Ayr United. Marius Zaliukas is likely to be a first pick when fit, while Lee Wallace has already proven himself a capable centre-back when required.

Competition for places is therefore intense in Bouzid's position, the 26-year-old acknowledging he must rise above all challengers. He and Zaliukas, internationalists with Algeria and Lithuania respectively, are by some distance Hearts' most experienced central defensive pairing, but that guarantees nothing ahead of the new SPL season.

"I need to work very hard and then the manager will take the choice for his first 11. We can give our best in training and then it is down to the manager," he continued. "It is good for the team to have competition. You need to fight in training and prove yourself if you want to be in the starting 11. That way the level will be better if everyone is fighting to be in the team. We need that every day, every week." Bouzid managed 30 appearances last year, the highest total of his career to date. He is the proverbial man of many clubs - eight in total - but has never encountered a pre-season campaign as rigorous as this one in Italy.

"If you want to be ready for the new season, you need to work very hard. I have not worked hard like this for the last two or three seasons but I have enjoyed it. It's very difficult but after one or two months in the league we will get the benefit of the work done here in Italy.

"You just need to give your best every day. The concentration level of the players has been good during all the training sessions, then afterwards we are more relaxed. You have time for recovery and to be ready for the second session in the evening.

"You know, every year pre-season is different. For example, when I was with Galatasaray we were preparing for the UEFA Cup and we had to be ready quickly. You get European games in July and they are difficult. But if you work too much you can be tired for the first game, that is dangerous. This year it is good because we have time. Our first game is in mid-August so we have time for good working and then the recovery.

"What happens at St Mirren or somewhere else is not my problem. I know the programme at Hearts is very good and we will be ready." Despite being a Csaba Laszlo signing last July, Bouzid has warmed to the methods of manager Jim Jefferies and his Hearts assistants, Billy Brown and Gary Locke. "I enjoy working with the new manager. I have big respect for him. I know he is a former Hearts player and he has lots of experience in Scotland.

"He showed good quality last year with training and his management of the club. I think he can do something more for the club, he will be good for Hearts."