Witteveen says he is more a physical than a technical player

David Witteveen says that moving from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg to Hearts is a step up in his career.

The 24-year-old striker spent last season on loan to regional side St Andra, but now he is on the verge of playing in the Europa League.

"It is a big step up for me," Witteveen told BBC Scotland after his return from Hearts' pre-season camp in Germany.

"It's the first time for me that I have played in Europe. It's a dream for every player and it's a dream for me."

Witteveen had options to remain in his homeland but was keen to sample Scottish football and taste Europe for the first time.

And his first competitive match for Hearts could be a Europa League qualifying play-off on 20 August.

"It was an easy decision because Hearts have a great tradition, a good team, a good coach, so I'm very happy to be here," he said.

I said to the coach we needed more strikers Hearts striker Christian Nade

"I had options in Austria, but Scotland was the first choice for me.

"Hearts are a very famous club in Europe and everybody knows about them.

"In Austria, everybody knows the Scottish league and everybody watches it on TV. I always saw the club playing."

Witteveen was not setting himself any goalscoring targets, suggesting that teamwork was just as important.

"I'm a striker, a physical player," he said. "I'm not a technical player, but I will give my best for the team."

Witteveen will provide much-needed competition for Christian Nade, who was employed as a lone striker for much of last season, while Hearts are believed to also be chasing West Brom striker Craig Beattie and SV Mattersburg forward Ilcho Naumoski.

Nade is happy to see another forward arrive after playing through injury towards the end of last season.

"I said to the coach we needed more strikers," Nade said. "David is a very good striker, very strong and he will adapt well to Scottish football."

Nade is unlikely to start the season following a hernia operation, although he is looking to play some part in the friendlies against Southampton and Plymouth later this month.

"I'm very happy to be back training with the team and touch the ball again," he added.

"I can probably play in England, so I'm very happy.

"It's still a hard slog because I'm not 100% - I can't sprint yet - but it's still okay and I think, in one or two months' time, I will be 100%."

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