Ageu's Hearts return? Some players back in contention for Kilmarnock as others make progress
Ageu almost ready for a return as Tomas Magnusson resumes training
Hearts’ record signing Eduardo Ageu has an outside chance of making the squad for Saturday’s Premiership match at Kilmarnock. The Brazilian midfielder has not played since February after undergoing surgery on his thigh but is in contention for Rugby Park, according to head coach Wouter Vrancken.
It remains to be seen whether Hearts include Ageu for this weekend’s fixture or let him continue training with a view to returning after the international break. Since arriving in Edinburgh in a £1.7m transfer deal from Portuguese club Santa Clara last summer, he has been beset by injury problems which restricted him to seven appearances.
Vrancken hopes to welcome another midfielder, Tomas Magnusson, back into the fray following illness and is grateful to have some extra options in the position with Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud and Finlay Pollock all still unavailable. Oisin McEntee remains touch and go due to a calf problem but Malachi Fagan-Walcott is close to returning.
“Thomas trained with the group, so we'll have to see the reaction now or tomorrow if he felt something,” reported Vrancken. “Oisin, it's day by day a bit, seeing how he is and hopefully he's ready soon. The rest are just training. Mal [Fagan-Walcott] is training, Ageu is training.
“It's good to have some [midfielders] back. Also, Ageu is making steps towards fully being back. We will discuss it with the medical staff, what is a risk or what isn't. He is in consideration. Mal also. I think it's the same level of consideration. The only thing is, with Stephen Kingsley coming back, we have some options more there. So we have to discuss it with medical staff tomorrow, how we did last week and how we felt last week. The most important feeling is with the player.”
McEntee’s absence is down to a niggling issue which is frustrating for both player and management. “It's his calf, but it's a minor thing and not that good actually,” explained Vrancken. “Because it's a little muscle, I've been told it’s a little muscle that doesn't have a lot of impact in what you do. The only thing is when you have something, you feel it and it gives some pain. Actually, it's better to tear it so that it's gone.
“It doesn't affect anything you do, but as long as it's not fully torn or fully good, then you feel pain when you do something. So when he could go through the pain, for example, it wouldn't affect his game. Because of the short pain sometimes before, it's always less and less. He couldn't do that, so hopefully he's back really soon.”
Ageu has yet to be available since Vrancken took charge of Hearts in June but the Belgian has an idea of what the player can offer. “You see the potential he's got in training sessions and you see the images from before, so you can have a thought. Of course, it's in the principles, it's in the connections. All those things that you cannot predict and hopefully it goes really fast. He's also a smart guy. He's a clever guy, so he picks up things very fast. Let's hope he can do it also on the pitch.
“I think, when he's on his top level, he is a good asset there for sure. Even more a No.8 than a No.6, I think, because he has the volume also to go up and down and to bring some physical presence there. We hope that he's selectable and available to play - and good in his feeling with the other team-mates as soon as possible.”
Dutch full-back Jordi Altena has been considered for a midfield role by Hearts in recent matches having played there previously. He was converted to right-back at former club RKC Waalwijk less than two years ago. Due to the number of injuries in the central area, Vrancken admitted that moving Altena did come into his thoughts.
“Yes, we were considering him in the last game [against Falkirk]. He was in the academy, I think, and he was a No.6 or a midfield player. At RKC, I think he also played as a midfield player sometimes. So yes, we considered him. But of course, when the others come back, it's better to have the others and keeping everybody in his position.”