Peter Haring opens up on double Hearts concussion ordeal and why fresh start offers hope at Tynecastle

Peter Haring lost six months of last season after suffering a brutal concussion. But Hearts’ midfield enforcer insists that won’t stop him going head first into the new campaign which he’s confident will be memorable for all the right reasons.

Haring’s influence in the Jambos’ engine room was sorely missed after he took a hefty knock in the closing stages of October’s 2-0 defeat at Aberdeen. Serious concerns were raised again for the Austrian when he was helped off after just 19 minutes of the season-ending derby draw with Hibs in May after another blow to his head just six games after returning from his original lay-off.

But Haring has been given the all-clear and has his focus firmly on making up for lost time in the new campaign. During his extended lay-off Robbie Neilson lost his job as the Jambos lost heir grip on third place.With his own contract being up and question marks over the option Hearts held to trigger an extra year, Haring could have been forgiven for wondering if he would be following his old boss out the door.

But after returning to play a key role in the upturn of form under Steven Naismith in the closing seven games of the season the Austrian is back for another 12 months - and couldn’t be happier.

Haring flew out to Marbella with the rest of the Tynecastle squad yesterday for their warm weather training camp. And the 30-year-old is confident sunnier times lie ahead after a gloomy campaign in Gorgie.

He said: “The feeling about next season is excitement. Especially for me personally because I’ve missed so much of last season.

“For a lot of us it’s a fresh start under a new manager. Naisy took care of the last seven games but this is his first pre-season and the first time he will put a real stamp on