Hearts want permanent deals as new signings settle in at Riccarton

A demanding campaign lies ahead even though merely four weeks have passed since the last demanding campaign ended. Extra European commitments necessitate a larger first-team squad, so Forrest and Neilson can expect to be joined by more signings.

Supporters are understandably becoming excited as Jorge Grant and Alex Cochrane get close to inking their names on Hearts contracts. Whether Lawrence Shankland follows suit remains to be seen. There is plenty time left to negotiate that business and more with the summer transfer window open until the end of August.

By then, Robbie Neilson and his players will know their European fate. The two-legged Europa League play-off tie takes place on August 18 and August 25 to determine whether Hearts will play in that competition or parachute into the Europa Conference League group stage.

They are guaranteed a minimum of eight matches against continental opponents either way in what will be the most financially-rewarding European season in the club’s history.

Players are already responding to the challenge despite this week being mainly set aside for testing and medical assessments at Hearts’ training ground. A pre-season training camp in Spain starts on Friday.

“There is obviously the lure of European football but also that desire to try to compete in the league and cups again,” Neilson explained in an exclusive Evening News interview.

“Players coming back after the summer see the new players we have brought in and others we are potentially going to bring in. You see the levels going up so everyone needs to up their game to make sure they get in the team and get game time.

“It’s always interesting to see new faces coming in and how it lifts the level of the group.” The more the merrier