Hearts defender Lee Wallace believes his side should aim for nothing short of a top-three finish in the coming Scottish Premier League campaign.

The Tynecastle outfit were sixth at the end of last season and Wallace is targeting an improved performance.

"You've got to set high standards; it's a huge club. The position last year wasn't acceptable for a club of Hearts' stature," said Wallace.

"We should be definitely aiming for the top three."

Csaba Laszlo vacated the Hearts manager's seat in January and paved the way for Jim Jefferies to return to the Edinburgh club.

And Wallace expects Jefferies' first pre-season back in charge of the club to strengthen the physical condition of the squad in time for the new season.

"We're going to get a great pre-season under our belt," Wallace said.

"We'll be a lot fitter than we were at the start of last season and that's a great thing.

"We've got a number of friendlies coming up, so getting match fitness is going to be great.

"Everyone knows about finishing top three, I think that's the manager's aim anyway. He obviously maybe wants more than that but that's just the man he is.

"We didn't have a too great finish to the season but he's laid down that this is going to be a tough pre-season.

I've always been able to handle the speculation in the last year. It's always about keeping your feet on the ground Lee Wallace

"Minimum requirement of getting top three, I think that'll be the target. Not just me, but everyone in that dressing room wants that and we'd set that as a standard.

"Getting into Europe again and doing well in the other cups, that's definitely a standard we're all going to set."

With the signings of Kevin Kyle and Darren Barr, Jefferies has begun rebuilding his squad following the departures of Jose Goncalves, Laryea Kingston, Christian Nade and Michael Stewart.

"We've got Kevin Kyle and Darren Barr, that's strengthened us," added Wallace.

"A few have left but there's still folk in that dressing room ready to take us on and there are a lot of good youngsters and a lot of them have come up from under-19 level so it's looking positive."

Wallace has picked up three Scotland caps and the 22-year-old has been linked with moves away from Tynecastle but the left-back insists he can cope with transfer speculation.

"Obviously it's just all speculation at this point. My friends tell me or you read bits in papers but I've never heard anything," he explained.

"I've always been able to handle the speculation. It's about keeping your feet on the ground.

"I'm at Hearts Football Club, I come in here everyday and I train for Hearts and go out on a Saturday and play for Hearts so that's just the way I see it.

"So, until anything else pops up, that's how it is.

"It's going to be another huge season and I'm happy to be involved in it."

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