Gary Locke tells Hearts players: ‘No time off’

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Saturday 6 April 2013 12:01

HEARTS manager Gary Locke is refusing his players any time off next week in order to ensure they are ready for the SPL’s post-split fixtures beginning in two weeks’ time.

The Edinburgh club are inactive next weekend having been eliminated from the Scottish Cup, but Locke has decided there will be no break.

The squad will train at Riccarton from Monday onwards as Locke and his coaching staff attempt to end the league 
campaign on a high note.

Hearts are currently languishing in the 11th place in the SPL table and their manager wants an improvement on their position before the summer.

“We have a free weekend next weekend because we’re out of the Scottish Cup,” said Locke.

“We’ll be working hard for the next two weeks; there won’t be any time off. We want to be winning as many games as possible between now and the end of the season and the only way to do that is to work hard and be prepared.”

Darren Barr will use the two-week break to rest a troublesome ankle injury with the aim of being available to play again after the split. The defender will not play against Ross County this afternoon as a precaution.

Taken from the Scotsman