Hearts manager Jim Jefferies is hopeful left-back Lee Wallace will be fit for the start of the season despite tearing a calf at their Italian training camp.
The Scotland international sat out most of the sessions at Il Ciocco in Tuscany and Jefferies admits the 22-year-old is a doubt for Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against St Johnstone on August 14.
"Lee's injury is a small tear to his calf," Jefferies told Hearts News. "Obviously it's a concern but I'm hopeful he'll be okay for the start of the season. He'll get more treatment when we get back and we'll just have to wait and see how he progresses, but at the moment it's really too early to put a time frame on things."
Hearts rounded off their week-long stint in Italy with a 2-1 practice-match victory over a local Barga select, but Jefferies revealed his players were suffering from his training regime.
"They were all very heavy-legged," the former Kilmarnock manager said. "Some of the boys were saying that it's the hardest pre-season they have had and that's what we want.
"They will reap the benefits and that will show in the weeks ahead."
Source: PA
