Hearts may be tangled up in a legal battle with the SPFL following confirmation of their relegation, but for the Jambos' players it's seemingly business as usual.

Business as usual, of course, in the sense that the current pandemic has changed what the phrase means completely. As club chief Ann Budge continues to challenge off-field issues, the players have a duty to try and maintain their fitness levels and sharpness as best they can, just in case they win the war and have to be ready for an August 1 comeback.

A plan Anthony McDonald has no problems with. The youngster has been working himself into the ground in a bid to force his way into the first-team at Tynecastle since returning from his loan spell at Dunfermline. Before that, he was farmed out to Inverness. It's been a tough time for the kid who simply wants to make his mark in Gorgie.

McDonald, 19, understands his club's position. He knows they've been wronged and respects their efforts to fight for their future in Scotland's top tier. However, as a 19-year-old in the midst of his own fight for a place in the team, McDonald has no interest in the fine details of it all. He has already done his bit in the coronavirus-age by accepting a wage cut to help the club. "The club have given us our chance so it feels like we're paying the club back," is how the down-to-earth kid puts it. Now it's all about being ready.

Social distancing restrictions and lockdown limitations has made it slightly tougher for players. Gyms have been closed, training pitches have been padlocked shut. So McDonald has had to get creative. "I've got a (4G) pitch down a five minute drive from me, but they locked the gate a few weeks ago," he told Herald and Times Sport.

"I've been resorting to climbing the fence like I'm 12 or 13-years-old again. It's not that high, thankfully. When I was even younger I would be too scared to climb because I'm scared of heights! But we've not had any rain so the grass pitches are all rock solid. If you try and put boots on, it kills you.

"It has been strange not having anyone there to push you, needing to do it all yourself. It's something you get used to and you need to do it as best you can. My brother Jack gave up football a while ago so he's not really interested running around with me.

"I'm missing the dressing room and the younger lads. It's nothing like normal, though, having a laugh and being with them every day. So it has been a bit tough. I'm close with the likes of Harry Cochrane and I've played FIFA with Andy Irving, but there's no point dwelling on not seeing them all the time, we're all in the same boat."

McDonald made his Hearts debut under former manager Craig Levein back in December 2017 in a 2-0 win over Dundee. The following week he came off the bench at Tynecastle against Celtic in the famous 4-0 thrashing of Brendan Rodgers' Invincibles to smash their 69-game unbeaten run.

A lot has happened for McDonald in that space of time. Levein departed as boss to be replaced by Daniel Stendel. Big-time players like Steven Naismith have walked through the doors. And the Scotland international has been a huge influence on McDonald and his young teammates. "The squad has changed quite a bit since I made my debut, which was a bit strange because I've spent the last two seasons out on loan," he added. "To go back to playing with them was good because it's the first time with most of them. The older guys when I first came in were brilliant with me.

"Steven Naismith has been excellent with me since he came in, like he's known me for ages. I could have played the game with my eyes closed next to him because of the amount he spoke. You can notice it with the lads now like Aaron Hickey and [Andy] Irving. He'll go and talk the young lads through the game to make sure they're concentrating and doing the right things.

"It's surreal. People look at Naisy like a role model, the supporters see him as a hero. For us to be taken under his wing is really good because he's played at the highest level at the Premier League, so it's surreal to be talked through a game like that."

On Stendel, McDonald admits their relationship started off a tad unusually. The German knew nothing of McDonald and vice versa. The first opportunity the manager had to watch the youngster in action ended in concussion for the player. Not the best first impression. "He came in December which was a bit of a shock seeing Levein get sacked," McDonald went on.

"I've known Craig since I was 13, so it was tough because I really liked him. He brought me through and turned me into the player I am today. Seeing Stendel come in, I didn't know who he was, how he was. I heard the Barnsley fans liked him which was a good sign, then I got recalled in January. But as soon as I was about to return I got concussed playing for Dunfermline, so that's a mandatory two weeks off.

"While all the other boys were back training, I was off. I don't even think the manager knew my name when I went in, I think he might have thought I'd won a competition to train with the Hearts team!

"I'm enjoying it just now and I was before the pandemic, but the sooner we're back, the better. He's spoke to me a lot, about what he wants from me and how he and the coaches will improve me, so that's good too."