Hearts squad happy to put in overtime after Sergio’s changes to working week

THE Hearts squad are enjoying working under Paulo Sergio and understand why the manager has cancelled their Wednesdays off, according to Jamie Hamill. The right-back said the reasons behind the change to the working week had been explained fully by the Portuguese manager, and added that the players would have no complaints about doing more training, especially if it led to improved results.

Hearts, who visit Inverness today, are up to fourth in the SPL after taking seven points from their last three games. Sergio lost his first league match in charge at Motherwell, and also presided over the heavy Europa League defeat by Spurs at Tynecastle, but is confident the team are steadily improving as he introduces his ideas.

“The manager explains everything he does.,” said Hamill, who moved to Tynecastle from Kilmarnock in the summer. “He didn’t just come in and say, ‘Right, we are training on Wednesdays now – end of story’. Everyone gets their input and we will have a discussion, but this is how he wants to do it and you just get on with it. It’s the same as in any other workplace – if the boss says you’ve to work an extra hour then you have to get on with it. If results go our way then nobody can really complain. It’s not difficult, but I’ve been six years playing and during that time most managers have given Sundays and Wednesdays off. Paulo Sergio’s stamped his own authority on us, but hopefully it’s for the good and that we start getting good results.”

Sergio also plans to introduce double sessions at some stage, and has just had the squad tested individually to assess physical weaknesses which may make them more injury-prone.

“We got tested to see the strengths of our hamstrings and quads and things like that,” Hamill said. “We get the results next week and then we’ll be given extra programmes and some specific gym work on a Monday or after training. These are things done with a view to benefiting us – it’s not just for the sake of it. He’s doing it for a reason and that reason is to help us. Everyone is enjoying it under the gaffer. Nobody is moaning. He’s new here as well and he’s still trying to work out everything about the place and how other managers work, but if you ask any of the players, they are really enjoying it.

“He’s good fun, but as with every manager you’ve got the line you don’t cross. If you overstep it then you know who is boss and you know what’s going to happen. But you can talk to him too.”

Hamill has been an instant success at Hearts, and had arguably his best game to date in the Edinburgh derby a fortnight ago, when Hearts won 2-0. He had an assist in both goals, scored by Ryan Stevenson and Andy Webster, although his abiding memory of the match is being the target for a couple of late tackles which produced bookings for Hibernian players.

“I’m enjoying it here at Hearts,” he added. “It’s a bigger club than Kilmarnock and I’m enjoying playing and training with international players. The boys have all helped me settle in too.

“The fans have taken to me, especially in the derby. But that’s probably because I was winding up the Hibs fans. The derby is my kind of game – there’s a few meaty tackles flying about. Unfortunately I was on the receiving end of a few and not dishing them out. But these things happen. In the heat of the moment you can get carried away, but I was able to keep my head and we got the win.”