Hearts boss Jim Jefferies has been handed a major boost with the news that Lee Wallace's calf tear is not as bad as first feared.

There were concerns the Scotland international could miss the start of the new season after suffering the injury during last week's training camp in Italy.

However, JJ told Hearts News this morning that the left-back could even make the trip to London next week when the Edinburgh side take on Gillingham and Millwall in an exciting double-header in the south of England.

"Lee's injury is improving and it is better than we anticipated," he said.

"He'll do a bit of running next week and build up from there. There's no point in pushing him, especially with a small tear but he could come to England with us which is good news."

The trip south will come too soon for Kevin Kyle but Jim is hopeful the striker will be available for when Hearts take on Wolves and Blackburn Rovers at Tynecastle early next month.

Meanwhile, Jim will not be pursuing South African defender Gordon Gilbert. The 27-year-old former Kaiser Chiefs ace played for the Reserves in last night's 0-0 draw with Bonnyrigg Rose but Jim confirmed the centre-half is not a signing option.

"He came recommended to us us and there was no harm in having a look at him," he said. "But with the players we have he wouldn't feature in the team."

Despite the goal-less draw, Jim was encouraged by the performance of a lot of his youngsters in the game.

"We played some really good football," added JJ. "Their keeper made a lot of good saves and I thought the team did well. The likes of Gordon Smith, Paul Mulrooney, Scott Robinson and Jason Holt all played and will have benefited from the game."

On Hearts.TV today, Ian Black targets silverwear in the new season.