Hearts provide injury update on eight players as trio near returns and duo land comeback rating
Hearts have been dealing with a plethora of injury issues.
Hearts hope midfielder Ageu can make a comeback after the international break against Dundee - with others nearing returns to action.
Several first-team players missed Sunday’s sobering 5-2 loss against Falkirk in the Premiership at Tynecastle as the club entered November’s international break with one win in eight. Ageu, Calvin Miller, Tomas Magnusson, Tom Renaud, Blair Spittal, Stephen Kingsley, Harry Milne, Christian Borchgrevink, Craig Halkett and Oisin McEntee have been joined by Malachi Fagan-Walcott on the treatment table, after he sustained a muscle injury versus the Bairns.
Dundee at Dens Park is next up in just under a fortnight’s time and some midfield reinforcements are expected. Magnusson is also set to return following concussion protocols while versatile forward Mato may be in contention. Spittal, McEntee and Borchgrevink are edging towards returns but Kingsley needs a scan for his hamstring injury suffered in last week’s Conference League loss to Thun.
Hearts injury latest
Head coach Wouter Vrancken said: “They have to make progress. I think Ageu would be back because he's already training in the team. Tomas, for sure, because he has his protocol with the concussion. Mato, probably, hopefully, if everything goes well.
“I think Spittal and McEntee will be 50-50 when we come back. I think these are the players. Christian Borchgrevink is also maybe one who will be on the edge of coming back at this moment. Stephen Kingsley, we have to wait for the scan, Monday or Tuesday. “
Captain Halkett has been a big miss in central defence for the entirety of this season after an Achilles injury sustained in May away to Motherwell. He has recently discussed how he has been building up towards his return to action but the Hearts head coach is playing it cautious with the defender. He has been pleased to see him out on the grass again but knows his return to competitive matches is still some time away yet.
Vrancken added: “It’s probably going to take a bit of time, of course, because he's on the grass, but not with the group, of course. It's far from group training but it's good for him, I think, that he has this progress. Hopefully he can keep doing the progress without setbacks and as a validation.”