Hearts injury record addressed as club hero airs theory that's impacting team amid latest blow
Hearts met Rangers ahead of their Hampden clash with rivals Hibs this Sunday.
Ryan McGowan insists Hearts’ luckless injury record is nothing more than bad fortune and possibly players adapting to changing circumstances.
Jambos attentions quickly turn to Hampden Park and a Premier Sports Cup semi-final with Hibs after holding former boss Derek McInnes and Rangers to a midweek draw. The 2-2 affair keeps Hearts third in the Premiership amid their relentless schedule and a new injury concern in the form of winger-turned-full-back Rogers Mato.
Sky Sports broadcast the highly-anticipated fixture and questions were asked of the punditry panel over why Hearts have suffered so many injuries. Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud and Harry Milne are just some of the stars who’ll have missed extensive time this term but 2012 Scottish Cup winner McGowan says the amount that happen in-game leaves Jambos head coach Wouter Vrancken little room for manoeuvre.
Why are Hearts suffering so many injuries?
McGowan said: “I think most of the injuries have happened during the game. If it's maybe continuous hamstring injuries from training, then that's something that has to be looked at within the high performance levels, and the fitness regime, I guess, of the week. I think most of Hearts’ injuries this season have come throughout games though.
”Again, it's probably sometimes players getting used to playing Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday, Wednesday, continuously, your recovery, your food, your sleep. Sometimes these players that we've mentioned, it's probably the first time they've been playing in Europe, it's probably the first time they've been playing in high intense games, on TV live, so it's probably a combination of all of those things, and a big case of bad luck, I guess.”
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd meanwhile has been impressed by Hearts under Vrancken. He added: “It's exciting times for Hearts. They came ever so close last year but they're going to start seeing better players arrive at the football club. They might fall in love with them for a year, and they'll get sold. You look at Alexandros Kyziridis last year, they moved him on, there's money came in, they'll go and they'll spend it.
“You could argue Josh McPake and Calvin Miller have given better output right now. They will build and build. I like the manager. I think he speaks straight, he's not anybody who's trying to fool anyone, he knows exactly the job here. I think right now he can be delighted with where his team's at. “