Peter Haring is raring to go for Hearts’ crack at the Premiership next season – and is convinced they have the quality to mount a top-four challenge.
The title-winning Jambos rounded off their Championship campaign with a convincing 4-0 win at third- placed Raith Rovers on Friday night, with their thoughts now firmly on their return to the top flight.
Boss Robbie Neilson has set out a target of finishing in the top six and taking it from there but many fans will demand fourth place as the bare minimum they should be aiming for.
And Haring believes the core of the Championship-winning squad, with a sprinkling of quality added here and there, will have the ingredients needed to sit where they want at the top table.
The Austrian midfielder said: “We’ve definitely got good players in our squad.
“We will have a few players leaving and a few coming in, which is normal.
“We will have to bring them into the team and I am positive we will be able to challenge for the top spots.
“Everyone expects us to push for top six or even top four and that’s definitely our target. We’ve got a few weeks off and everyone needs to look after themselves then make sure we come back ready to go and hit the ground running next season.
“We know what to expect and I hope we get fans in next season. It’s so much more enjoyable, especially being back in the Premiership.”
Haring has only recently returned to the starting line-up after injury and a loss of form meant he had to sit and watch what was a difficult first couple of months of 2021.
But since he’s been starting, Hearts have conceded one goal in five matches, and fans believe that a fit Haring makes Hearts a better team.
With a much needed pre-season under his belt come the end of July, Haring is hoping to hit the heights that made him such a popular figure after his Tynecastle arrival in 2018.
He said: “I’ll take it as a compliment. I’ll try to do my best to help my team-mates, especially in my position. I really enjoy it, that’s the most important thing for me.
“It will be good for me to get a pre-season. This season I came into the team without any minutes or any pre-season, so just to get games in the new pre-season will be massive for me. It is going to help me.
“I’m trying not to take too many days off in the coming weeks so that I can stay strong, stay in shape and get better.
“I hope I can be a regular starter but, like in every
pre-season, everyone starts from zero.”
Hearts will bring in new faces but there’s one Haring hopes sticks around.
Veteran Steven Naismith is considering calling it a day and will make a decision on his future over the summer.
But Haring is desperate for the skipper to lead Hearts back to where they belong.
He added: “I hope he doesn’t leave. I’ve not spoken to him, I have just read it. He’s a great guy to have around.
“He’s an experienced player. He’s gone through everything you can imagine in football and has played at a high level in Scotland and England.
“Personally I enjoy working with him because he is always there with every team-mate to give advice.
“Also, on the pitch, he can change games even if he does not start them.
“I’m positive we will see Naisy again next season.”
