27 July 2007, by Lorna Danion

Goncalves gunning for successful season

Hearts defender hopes to put injury problems behind him

Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves is hoping to put his injury problems behind him, as he prepares for the new Scottish season with Hearts.

Goncalves, 21, joined the Edinburgh club in January 2006, but various fitness setbacks have limited him to just 15 starts for the Jambos during his 18 months with the club.

“It was very hard. I want to play,” said Goncalves, who is now fully fit. “Staying injury-free is very important because I have had a lot of injuries. I was very sad because I could not play. I could not enjoy the training or games with the other players.

“I needed to work by myself because I was injured. That is in the past and I am good for this season coming. I want to stay injury-free and I want to play. I want to be in the starting 11. For that I aim to work hard and to be ready for each game and do my best.”

The former FC Thun defender should be sharper than the rest of his colleagues, having taken part in the European Under-21 Championships last month, which reduced his summer break ahead of the team’s current training camp in Germany.

“It was a very short holiday because I had the Championship,” he said. “That was until the end of June and I have already been in Austria and now Germany.

“We are working hard to be ready for the new season. We have three weeks now to improve our fitness and football.”

Hearts begin the new campaign on August 18th with a home match against newly-promoted Gretna.