Hearts ace sent to hospital as Calvin Miller injury update sent after Premier Sports Cup dejection
Hearts suffered a day to forget at Hampden Park against their arch-rivals.
Wouter Vrancken says Calvin Miller is in a brace, and Tomas Magnusson has been sent to hospital, after Hearts’ injury woes deepened during their 2-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat versus Hibs.
Already adding forward Rogers Mato to the injury list from last time out against Rangers, midfielder Magnusson was substituted in the first half with a head injury. He initially passed concussion protocol testing before being unable to continue and soon exited Hampden Park. Talisman Miller was also taken off before half-time and left the stadium in a brace following a lower leg problem, and Vrancken admitted Mato will likely miss the next week too. It’s a situation he has never experienced the like of.
The Hearts manager explained: “Nothing like this. Not even close. I didn't see Tomas because Tomas is to the hospital. Calvin was in a brace but it's always difficult to say directly after the game. So we have to wait for a scan on Monday or the day after. The doctor and medical staff, they did their concussion test on the pitch, at that moment. Tomas passed the concussion test and then he came to me to come in.
Hearts 1-2 Hibs assessed
“Then he was going left and right, he couldn't stand on his legs anymore. When I saw it, there's no doubt in your head that you're going to let him on the pitch at that moment, because you cannot take the risk. Then he saw it himself also at the moment. He said, 'no, I can't do it. And then we had to change him, and now he's to the hospital, so I don't know.
“I don't know if you can expect Rogers this week. Because now it's not about how long. When you're out for one week, it's crucial, because it's two or three games that you miss in this run of games. We'll see what the next days will bring. Stuart Findlay is back, so there's one, the rest is difficult to say. Ageu is on the pitch but individual.”
Claudio Braga had started the day off well with a Hearts opener but Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath goals have eliminated the Jambos from this season’s Premier Sports Cup. Ageu, Tom Renaud, Blair Spittal, Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, Oisin McEntee, Christian Borchgrevink and Mato were all missing from this before two new blows.
Swiss side Thun away from home in the Conference League comes this Thursday before a return to Premiership action at Tynecastle versus Falkirk, preceding a much-needed international break. Vrancken is not using injuries, however, to excuse from losing to Hibs for the first time in Mount Florida. He said: "Really sore and disappointed of course, especially when you see the game going on, how the game was going on.
Wouter Vrancken on Hearts loss vs Hibs
"We didn't have to go this way because we had control of the game when we started. I think it started with the moment that Tomas was injured, that's clear, and afterwards Calvin. And those two changes, I'm not pointing out the guys who came in, for sure not, but these changes get us out of the rhythm and because of the connections. Maybe not top in the duels because we were really strong in these duels. These first moments and second balls, picked up those second balls, finding the right spaces.
"Then you lose these profiles, and then it's searching again, and then hesitations. Sometimes we gave them too much space and then you lose actually the game in those 20 minutes, I'd say. Because then when you get to half-time, you can adjust some things and get the hesitations out of the game and be clear on those things.
“Also in possession, especially with the profiles on the pitch, we had to go more from possession and then it was much better. Then we dominated the game again and it's just a pity that they didn't get rewarded. They had a lot of knocks already, mentally and emotionally, also today. You just hope that they get rewarded for fighting hard and it's a pity, especially in such a game, of course."