Hearts star faces months out injured as Wouter Vrancken provides update on duo after battling St Johnstone win
The Hearts head coach has reacted to his side’s victory over St Johnstone at Tynecastle.
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has confirmed midfielder Tom Renaud faces months out injured after his side’s Premiership win over St Johnstone.
The home side at Tynecastle edged out their Perthshire visitors 2-1 thanks to a James Wilson strike and an Enes Alic own goal before half-time. Simo Valakari’s visitors improved in the second half and got one back after the restart through Ruari Paton before piling pressure on the Jambos final third.
Eventually, a Hearts win capped off a brilliant week for the club, who qualified for the league phase of the Conference League by defeating Rapid Vienna on penalties away from home. One negative to come out of it was Renaud’s ankle injury in the first half that required a stretcher to take him off the pitch. A scan has now been conducted and Vrancken faces talks over whether or not include the summer signing from FC Versailles in his European squad that must be named by Wednesday night. Whether or not it forces Hearts into the transfer market for a replacement will also be assessed.
Tom Renaud injury update
Vrancken confirmed: “It's not good. It will not be weeks, it will be months, but I can't give the explanation. I think it's best for the doctor or somebody from the medical staff to give a clear explanation on this because I'm not an expert. Otherwise I'm going to say things that are maybe not correct. It's a pity that we will lose him for a few months. We have to discuss it on Monday or Tuesday, seeing what the physios, doctors, what they predict, or try to predict for his injury. Then we'll see because the list has to be in on Wednesday.”
Defender Jamie McCart also missed the match after exertions in Vienna. Vrancken added ahead of Thursday’s Edinburgh derby at Hibs: “Not injured. He felt this tightness in his calf from the Rapid Vienna game. When you feel it still in the morning now, that's why I said on Friday already, we have to see a little bit today. This morning is also important to see how they wake up and how they feel. And with him, when you have this tightness in your calf, you cannot start the game or take too many risks with this muscle. I expect him to be ready on Thursday again.”
A commanding first half display pleased Vrancken wanted more goals. That allowed Saints a route back into the game as a lack of quality was spotted by the Belgian head coach in his side’s play, however, he was pleased with how they battled after their midweek efforts.
Wouter Vrancken on Hearts 2-1 St Johnstone
He added: “Good first half, decent first half, let's say, where we have to score more goals. Then after their goal, a little bit too much panic, and the quality was gone with a lot of moments. Then we're just fighting to get the result. I have to say I'm still proud of the players, what they did, because we played 120 minutes and only two days of rest. It's not possible to fully recuperate or recover, and a lot of people forget this, how hard it is.
“When you get a setback in the game, then it makes it difficult, then you feel the fatigue extra, physically but especially emotionally. I’m happy to see that they kept together and that they fought together, because this is an important quality, that you can combine quality on the ball and quality in your game. You have always in a game or season some difficult moments and then this is important that you can fight together for the results. They did it today and in that way we were proud. We didn't give too much away, I think, in total. We had to score three goals for sure, and when you score in such a game that third one, then the game is finished.”