Stephen Kingsley should be back from injury in time for Hearts ’ Premier Sports Cup fixtures.
The left back missed the Championship title run in after injuring his groin in a 0-0 draw away at Arbroath back in March.
Robbie Neilson ’s players are due back at Riccarton for pre-season training this Wednesday after their season finished back at the end of April.
That will likely come a bit too soon for Kingsley, but Neilson is confident the former Swansea City and Hull man will be able to play by the time the Jambos travel to Peterhead on Saturday 10 July.
“I would think he will be ready, yes. We aren't sure if he will be back for the first full training day but we expect him to definitely be back for the competitive matches,” Neilson told the Edinburgh Evening News.
“He was running and had a wee bit of an issue, but not the original problem. We think it's just because he hasn't done much for a while. At the moment, we're just trying to cope with that.
“He isn't too far away. I'm hopeful he'll be back in full training definitely by the second week of pre-season.”
Kingsley is now the only recognised senior left back on the books at Tynecastle after it was confirmed that Aidy White would leave after his contract expired.
Andy Halliday slotted into the left wing back position and did well in the final few weeks of last season, but Neilson will be keen to get his first choice back after an impressive start to his Hearts career.
Kingsley is contracted until the end of next season and penning an extension to his initial one-year deal.
And if he continues his good form in the Premiership, the club will be urged to get him tied down for even longer.
