Plymouth Argyle and Hearts are set to face off in a friendly match as part of their pre-season preparations. This will be Plymouth’s first season in the Championship after winning the League One title last season. They are looking to build a squad that can compete in the second tier of English football. Hearts, on the other hand, finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership last season and are preparing for their third consecutive season in the top flight.
Plymouth returned from their summer break at the end of June and have been undergoing warm-weather training in Marbella ahead of the friendly clash. They have a series of friendly matches lined up against Plymouth Parkway, Torquay United, Forest Green Rovers, Salford City, and Swindon Town before their first league game against Huddersfield Town on August 5.
Hearts, under interim manager Steven Naismith, have also been busy with their pre-season preparations. Naismith has been appointed as the club’s technical director as he currently does not have a UEFA Pro Licence. Hearts have lined up pre-season matches against Plymouth, Dunfermline Athletic, Dunbar United, and Leeds United before their first Premiership fixture against St Johnstone on August 5. They also have Europa Conference League qualifiers to look forward to.
In terms of team news, Plymouth have made three signings so far in the transfer window, while Hearts are yet to make any additions to their squad. Plymouth goalkeeper Michael Cooper will not be involved in the match as he is still recovering from an ACL rupture. Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who suffered a leg break last season, has increased his training workload and hopes to begin outdoor rehabilitation during the pre-season.
Considering the two teams’ recent form and squad strength, it is expected to be a closely-contested match. Both teams have potential goal threats in their lineups, and a score draw could be the likely outcome. The match will provide an opportunity for both teams to assess their players and fine-tune their tactics before the start of their respective seasons.
