Hearts boss working hard to get Islam Chesnokov fit for remainder of season

Hearts boss Derek McInnes revealed Islam Chesnokov is being put through a “mini pre-season” in an effort to get the recent recruit up to speed for the remainder of the season.

The Kazakhstan winger arrived in Edinburgh earlier this month having not played since representing his country in mid-November, with his last match for his previous club Tobol in October.

Chesnokov was a substitute for three Hearts matches but looked rusty after coming on for his debut against Falkirk in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

The 26-year-old was not included in the squad for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Celtic and manager McInnes said: “Islam is someone we’ve waited a long time for.

“We probably underestimated him being able to pick up the speed of the game and the fitness of where he was at after maybe six or seven weeks without training.

“We’ve made a concerted effort with him and he decision was made that we would put him through a little mini pre-season for the next two weeks.

“He’s been doing extra training just to try and get him able to cope with the speed of the game because obviously it’s different from Kazakhstan.

“When everybody’s starting from the same moment, then it’s easier to find your fitness. But he’s coming into a team who are more than halfway through the season.

“With the intensity of the Scottish game, we’ve got to be understanding that maybe (he needs) more training, more awareness of what’s required.

“But we feel that he could get the benefit of these last two weeks. We’re working him hard and he’s eager to play his part. We’re delighted that we’ve got him because we see his quality in training and we just want him to be as fit as he can be to demonstrate that.”

McInnes, who expects new signing Rogers Mato to join up with his squad this week ahead of Saturday’s trip to Dundee United, was delighted with Marc Leonard’s debut display against Celtic after the 24-year-old midfielder’s arrival on loan from Birmingham.

“I thought Marc was terrific,” said the manager. “It was a difficult start for him for a debut but I think it tells you a lot about the boy and his personality, that he kept taking it and he put his foot on the ball.

“He was very important to us, just to link that back lot to the front lot. I thought he was very influential. We are going to enjoy working with him.”