Hearts hold injury comeback hope over stars as relentless fixture gauntlet to follow after international break
Hearts are in cold storage right now but they hope to return with added reinforcements.
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken is counting on the likes of Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Oisin McEntee returning to his maroon ranks next month as the Jambos get set for a relentless run of fixtures.
A busy start to the season across domestic matches and European qualifiers had the Belgian’s team plans changed by injury. Midfielders Tom Renaud and Blair Spittal are out longer-term but others could be in line to return soon. Hearts are currently on a three-week break due to international fixtures and are back in action on October 10 against St Mirren in the Premiership.
That will kickstart a seismic run that includes a Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden against Hibs, two Conference League matches, plus Premiership battles with both Rangers and Celtic in a demanding three-week period. Right-sided defender Fagan-Walcott has been absent since late July’s Champions League qualifiers against Sturm Graz while versatile star McEntee hasn’t played since going off at half-time in the league win against Dundee during early September. Finlay Pollock is also close to returning after 18 months out as Vrancken hopes for October reinforcements.
When will Hearts have stars back from injury?
When asked if the break would allow players like Fagan-Walcott and McEntee to return against St Mirren or games soon after, Vrancken told the Evening News: “Yeah, hopefully. Hopefully, I count on it actually. We play a friendly before we play St. Mirren.
“So no, hopefully they can be back and they're fit and that we can keep them fit. And yeah, you see that some guys who are out now who have this extra quality. Ageu is now back, Malachi, like you said, and Oisin. So happy to see this happening because we're going to need everybody."
Hearts entered the international break with a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, Stephen Kingsley striking late in the game to claim a point, after Laurent Mendy controversially had an opener for the Jambos ruled out by VAR for handball. Ageu’s return to midfield in the game was a boost for Vrancken but playing three left-sided defenders across his back four spoke to the absences still keenly felt in that area.
Wouter Vrancken on Hearts progress
Having players return to the ranks ahead of another demanding run is welcomed though and the head coach believes Hearts stars have adapted well to playing every few days. While they do make demands of the Tynecastle squad, Vrancken insists such big matches must be savoured, particularly in Europe where they battled valiantly in Austria to defeat Rapid Vienna on penalties, en-route to the league phase of this year’s Conference League.
Vrancken added: "Yeah, hopefully we can recuperate some players. I think it's good when you also see the game on Saturday against Kilmarnock, I think it's good to have some profiles back, that you then don't have to play too many players outside their position. So yeah, hopefully we can recuperate some guys and then I think they felt it also in this run of games how important it is to prepare.
“To take care of your body, to do all the things needed to be fit after two, three days. But you're a player or a coach to play games, the most fun thing is to play games, and especially because it's Europe and we fought so hard to get there. So we have to enjoy those games and try to be on our best.”
The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly