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STEWART SEES SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT
Michael Stewart - hopeful.
Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart is going into Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener against Motherwell with "cautious optimism" following victory over Hull.
An Audrius Ksanavicius header earned Hearts a 1-0 win over the Barclays Premier League newcomers on Sunday.
Csaba Laszlo was encouraged by the discipline of his players in his first home match in charge and Stewart believes the new manager's ideas are coming together.
"We came up against Premiership opposition and we managed to win - regardless of anything else we have got to take confidence from that," the midfielder said.
"I think collectively we looked quite solid, which is something the manager has reiterated day on day.
"He wants everyone together as a unit, defensively and attacking-wise.
"He has only been in the job a few weeks but we are starting to see the benefits of what he has been talking about already.
"I don't want to keep harping on about it, but when the manager talks about backing each other and when you have 11 players working together, it helps.
"If you feel a bit tired for five minutes, if the rest of the boys are pulling you through it, it's amazing how much that can cover up."
Hearts fans, recovering from a poor season when their team finished eighth in the SPL, endured more weeks of concern after Motherwell boss Mark McGhee rejected a move to Tynecastle in May.
But Stewart believes the feelgood factor is returning following Laszlo's arrival.
The 27-year-old told Hearts World: "Generally speaking, pre-season results don't matter, but when you get to a week before the season in front of your own fans on the back of a disappointing season, then obviously it does matter.
"Not only from the confidence we get but it shows the supporters there is change and a fresh impetus in the club.
"That has a snowball effect - confidence breeds confidence and that filters through to the supporters as well.
"When the supporters are behind the team, it's a win-win situation.
"We are not going to get ahead of ourselves but we have got to be cautiously optimistic."
Meanwhile, Robbie Neilson has recovered from the Achilles injury that has sidelined him for a month.
The full-back will begin his own programme now a protective boot has been removed.
"Robbie has had his boot taken off so we will see how he goes over the next two weeks or so," Laszlo said.
"It has been a frustrating time for him but he can now concentrate on getting back into full training.
"He has only done something like 10 days' running so has a bit of work to get through to get himself ready."
