Peter Haring trains with Hearts team-mates for first time in 15 months as sessions resume at Riccarton

Austrian takes next step in recovery after surgery
Hearts midfielder Peter Haring is stepping up his recovery.Hearts midfielder Peter Haring is stepping up his recovery.
Hearts midfielder Peter Haring is stepping up his recovery.

Hearts players returned to training at Riccarton this morning as Austrian midfielder Peter Haring joined in with team-mates for the first time in 15 months.

The Edinburgh club were delighted to welcome Haring back into the fold as he pushes towards a return from persistent groin and pelvic injuries.

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An order to halt training was issued by the Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League on August 13 following coronavirus breaches by Aberdeen and Celtic players.

That applied only to non-Premiership teams so Hearts had to stop sessions just two weeks into their pre-season programme.

Permission was given to restart training today and Haring took part in a passing and possession game with the first-team squad at the club’s training ground.

He is now involved in part of each session and it is hoped he will progress to full training soon.

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The 27-year-old has not played since the Scottish Cup final in May 2019 but underwent hernia surgery in June this year which helped him exercise without pain for the first time.

He began running at the start of this month, followed by light ballwork, and is hopeful of taking part in some of Hearts’ pre-season friendlies during September.

“He did the majority. He probably did about 60 per cent of the training,” manager Robbie Neilson told the club website. “He is looking good. He obviously has to get his sharpness.

“He is still probably quite a way away from getting a full game but it’s just great to have him back on the grass. Everyone knows what type of player he is.

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“It will be great for the club once he gets back fit again but we just have to be patient with him, which we’ll do.

“He is definitely [like a new signing]. He can cover centre-half and centre midfield, he’s got great quality. I’ve only known him for a few weeks and he seems like a great character as well.

“The boys all love him, as do the fans, so it’s pleasing to get him back.”

Neilson’s team will begin competitive action in the Betfred Cup against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Tuesday, October 6. Their Championship campaign kicks off on October 17 at home to Dundee.

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They will begin the season without centre-back John Souttar, however. He suffered a relapse of an Achilles injury and is facing surgery on Wednesday.

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