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Veteran Steven Naismith has been named the new captain of Hearts.

Record Sport understands the 34-year old will be handed the skipper's armband succeeding axed Christophe Berra.

Berra was stripped of the title after he was told to find a new club as Daniel Stendel continues his clear out at Tynecastle.

And the German has put his faith in Naismith who remains an integral part of the Hearts squad.

When the Scotland star has been fit, he has been Hearts' best player by a wide margin and was influential in their success at the start of last season and their run to the Scottish Cup Final.

Stendel will hope the former Rangers man will steer Hearts off bottom spot during the second half of the season after a dismal start to the campaign.

Defender Berra has been training with the reserves rather than the first team, which many believed to be particularly harsh.

But Stendel revealed that was the player’s decision rather than his.

He said: "The thing is when you say 'you don't play more and you're no longer the skipper' this is the situation.

If your boss says you no longer work but you’re next to those who are, it's no good for either.

“We haven't said he needed to train with the reserves; he wanted to train with the reserves.

“We want to find the best solution. We have 12 days but at the moment I have no news from him, whether he wants to stay or play for another club. In the end, this isn't my job. I've had a talk with him but he will decide with the club"