Nade struggled with his injury last season but played through the pain

Hearts striker Christian Nade has targeted a return to fitness for the start of the season despite undergoing a summer hernia operation.

The 24-year-old Frenchman will miss the start of pre-season training this week and will not feature in warm-up games in Germany next week.

But he told Hearts' website: "The first game of the season is my target.

"And, if everything goes well, hopefully I will be okay to face Dundee United on 15 August at Tannadice."

Nade had struggled with the injury last season and had surgery a week after the final game.

"I knew I had to get it done and everything went well," he said.

I have a couple of candidates in mind, but there is no hurry to name a captain just now Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo

"The focus is now on being fit for the start of the new season.

"I have been doing my rehab while back in France and I'll continue with it when I get back to the academy.

"I have been consulting doctors in France throughout and I'll be working hard with the physios at the club this week after I return."

Meanwhile, Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has yet to choose a new captain following Robbie Neilson's move to Leicester City.

"I have a couple of candidates in mind, but there is no hurry to name a captain just now," said the manager.

"We have games coming up in Germany and it is important to look at the attitude and mentality of the players during those matches."

Laszlo added that he was still looking to add new signings to his squad.

Midfielder Ian Black has signed a three-year deal after leaving Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while defender Jose Goncalves has returned to Tynecastle after a loan spell with Nuremberg.

Hearts are understood to have made an approach for Motherwell right-back Paul Quinn and are also interested in bringing Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley back for a second spell at Tynecastle.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version