Hearts duo told Tynecastle chances are 'limited' as Wouter Vrancken thankful for Champions League headache
The Hearts head coach has decisions to make ahead of a return to Europe.
Wouter Vrancken is pleased to have been given some Hearts headaches ahead of their return to the Champions League - as two stars face limited Tynecastle action.
The Belgian took charge in front of a home crowd in Gorgie on Friday night during victory over Rayo Vallecano during their final friendly clash prior to competitive matches. Sturm Graz away from home in the first leg of their Champions League second round qualifier takes place this Tuesday before a return leg seven days later at home with Vrancken’s squad announced.
A bulging player core at Hearts currently means some stars like new signings Josh McPake, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Beau Reus and Amadou Ba-Sy have missed out, as some made a case to play in the game during a 2-1 friendly success. Vrancken says it’s nice to have such issues ahead of competitive kick-off.
Who will start for Hearts vs Sturm Graz?
“Friday made it more difficult, luckily,” said Vrancken. “For sure you want to see some guys standing up and taking responsibility and showing themselves. We need more players than 11 players to play all those games. For sure, I like it like this.
“We make the decisions and also we look to the fatigue and all those things together What they can handle to start or to come in. We will need everybody in those games. We know that not everybody can go for 90 minutes full. So we need everybody of the team to help us. It's a pity that a lot of players couldn't show themselves as much as they want.
“Because we had to give the list on Thursday. And some guys I saw two times 45 minutes or 45 and 60 minutes. But that's not real minutes to show something. But OK, you make a decision. I talked with everybody. I’m really honest and open in my decision-making and the reasons behind. I talked with all those players. We have watched Sturm Graz already for a few weeks, of course. Not only the friendlies, it's always been Sturm Graz also, to analyse them and to speak about them. It's going to be long days. Saturday is a free day for the players, but not for the staff.”
Ba-Sy has missed recent friendly matches due to illness but the French striker showed his qualities with two first half headers against Vallecano. Hearts submitted the squad to UEFA on Thursday but they are able to make two changes until 10.59pm on Monday, so Ba-Sy could replace another player on the list, if needed. Four of the 25 spots available to Hearts must be club-trained, and with James Wilson the only one, 22 players have been picked.
What two Hearts players face limited minutes?
“Very happy because it's his first 45 minutes after a difficult start for him here,” said Vrancken. “Being sick and stuff. He's making step-by-step progression also in the volume and condition-wise. You saw after 35 minutes that it dropped a little bit in intensity and volume. But this is normal. But it's good for him when you score goals as an attacker. It gives confidence.”
“It's good for him when you score goals as an attacker. It gives confidence. It's good for him that he has this feeling again for the fans. He can be there. That's important. He had no minutes at this moment. I think there is still a possibility to change some things. One or two, I don't know. The right rules. We have to check it. No matter what, it's good for him that he has this feeling again for the fans. He can be there. That's important.”
Elton Kabangu, Sander Kartum and Wilson were not involved in the squad against Spanish opposition on Friday , and while the latter is included in the Champions League squad, the remaining pair aren’t. Vrancken admits it’s difficult to find minutes for them, with Kartum having spent the second half of last term at Wellington Phoenix, and Kabangu was reduced to 312 minutes at Hearts.
”You cannot give everybody minutes,” Vrancken added. “20, 25, 28 players minutes in one game. So we did it now already with Alexandros Kyziridis and Blair Spittal to show them a little bit to the fans. So we had some players only 30 minutes at the moment to play in the second half. But yeah, for James it's different. He's young and there's a lot of competition there. And he's on the list. So he has this positive thing there. The other two, the situation is more difficult. And the chances are limited.”