Hearts medical scan will determine the team to face Hibs at Hampden as one player returns

Hearts will delay their final team selection for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hibs to allow a medical scan of Rogers Mato’s injury. The Ugandan internationalist did not train at Riccarton on Friday but head coach Wouter Vrancken reported that he is responding well to testing and treatment. A CT scan will determine whether he can play in the all-Edinburgh tie at Hampden Park.

Mato was substituted during the first half of Wednesday’s Premiership draw between Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle Park. He felt pain around his calf and Achilles, and chose not to risk playing on in case the problem worsened. He is being monitored closely by Hearts medical staff but the club want the injury scanned before deciding whether he is available for Sunday.

Although primarily a winger, Mato has played left and right full-back to good effect in Hearts’ last three games. Stephen Kingsley’s experience at left-back and Jordi Altena’s nous at right-back make them favourites for those respective roles at Hampden. Centre-back Stuart Findlay is back training after a groin complaint, but Vrancken still has seven first-team regulars definitely missing this weekend.

SNS Group

“Mato has a doubt at this moment,” confirmed the manager. “I don't think it's too bad actually when they do the functional tests and stuff like this. Stu [Findlay] trained today, so we'll see how he reacts tomorrow. That's it, actually.” Vrancken added that Hearts wanted to exercise caution with Mato. “We just want to make sure. The testing is okay and he's feeling better than yesterday already. We have to make sure that we do a scan, that the things we feel are also backed up with a good scan.”

Defenders Craig Halkett, Christian Borchgrevink and Harry Milne, plus midfielders Oisin McEntee, Eduardo Ageu, Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud are ruled out of the Hibs encounter. It will be the seventh of nine Hearts fixtures inside a hectic month-long period, however Vrancken is relaxed about the prospect of fatigue within his squad. “I'm confident because they're showing the mentality all the time,” he explained. “We will push them to go on like this.

“When you want to play in good teams and play for the top spots in the league, then you always want a schedule like this. Everybody wants to play the cup games, wants to play the league games, wants to play Europe. You cannot have an easy schedule and still play those games. Everybody would choose to play the games. Then we have to adapt on it. I think a lot of players have adapted pretty well already. Let's keep it like this and then we can push them even further.”

Hearts have not lifted the League Cup since 1962 and, if they are to reach the final of this year’s tournament, the club’s top goalscorer is likely to play a pivotal role. Calvin Miller scored nine goals for former club Falkirk last season before a six-figure transfer to Tynecastle in June. He has already found the net eight times in maroon, becoming an integral part of Vrancken’s new-look Hearts team.

The Belgian must decide whether Miller is most effective out on the wing or in a more central role against Hibs. He occupied the latter against Rangers, scoring one fine goal and supplying a free-kick for another in the 2-2 draw. “Calvin, when you have an open spot, you can just put him there,” laughed Vrancken, referencing the player’s adaptability. “I’m just joking. He has a lot of quality. He has proven already that he can play in different positions, especially in attack. He will probably play a few positions there. We know that his level will not drop if he changes positions.

“Calvin has a profile. He's really flexible in what we want. The thing is, his football intelligence is there in the match plan and in the game plan. Then you can use him in a flexible way without putting him everywhere. He has to find his own game, also. He does really well. For me, he did really well against Rangers.”

Miller’s form makes him a serious contender for a place in Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland squad for next month’s Nations League ties against North Macedonia and Switzerland. That will be announced on Tuesday. “I thought he was ready last time. I still think the same today,” said Vrancken.

The Hearts manager prioritises removing emotion from big games, which will be important for all concerned on Sunday. Hearts have played numerous high-octane matches already this season and the semi-final is merely the latest on the list. They will be backed by a huge crowd in Glasgow having sold their full allocation of tickets. “Let's hope that the things before already helped them,” said Vrancken. “Also to help them, like for example in Trabzon, a full stadium to play there. Now we have more than 23,000 people, Hearts fans who will support us.

“It will be another feeling than in Trabzon, but also a full stadium, a big stadium. Let's hope because you have to focus on the emotion. You always have emotion in sport, but the emotions have to be in what you have to do and in your transition moments and all those things. How you handle it, how you be proactive and those things. The other emotions around, they're not useful towards your game. Just like I said, you have to keep those emotions out and focus on the game. You know the weight of the game, of course, and go from there.”