Liam Boyce speaks on his Hearts future and potential new contract

Comment on his future has been plentiful since reports of interest from Aberdeen and Ipswich Town emerged. The Northern Irishman finished a week-long training camp in southern Spain feeling buoyant about the campaign ahead. He has no intention of going anywhere.

Not that Hearts are interested in any sale. Boyce is their primary goalscorer with 16 from 41 appearances last season and is the club’s only recognised first-team striker for now. That situation will change before the summer transfer window closes but he remains the man to dislodge.

Boyce isn’t content with that scoring ratio. There is always room for improvement in his eyes. Entering the final 12 months of a lucrative three-and-a-half-year contract, he stressed he is happy at Hearts and would sign an extended deal if offered.

“Wherever I’ve been, I’ve never tried to force my way out or say I’ve wanted to leave,” he explained. “If the team wants me and I feel like I’m valued here then I’m happy to stay anywhere that’s available – and if the club want me to stay I’m more than happy to.

“I’m happy to be here and I’ve always said I’m happy to go wherever I’m wanted or stay wherever I’m wanted. I’m just happy to be at Hearts, a big club, we’re in Europe and that’s the way I take it.

“When you get older it [speculation] sort of happens in every window. I don’t know where it came from. I just concentrate on playing well and scoring goals and seeing what happens.”

Now would be a strange time to push for an exit from Tynecastle Park with European group-stage football guaranteed next season. “Exactly, last year we worked hard as a team and we were playing well, getting to cup finals and this is the reward for that,” said Boyce.

“Now we thinking about winning games in