Michael Stewart shows off his new Hearts kit

The former Hibernian midfielder, who left Easter Road at the end of last season has flown out to Austria to meet up with the Hearts squad.

Stewart, 26, spent two years at Hibs but spent a loan spell at Hearts while a Manchester United player.

Assitant boss Stephen Frail told Hearts' website: "We're looking forward to him integrating into our squad."

Stewart joined Hibs after leaving Old Trafford in 2005, but he left Easter Road under a cloud amid stories of player unrest in the dressing-room.

His last action saw him substituted at half-time in the 1-1 draw with St Mirren on 4 April, after which he was told by manager John Collins that he would not be required for first-team duty for the rest of the season.

Collins insisted that Stewart, who won three caps for Scotland, had not been disciplined, but had been told previously that he would not be offered a new deal at the end of the season.