Hearts star making 'very important' steps in development as Wouter Vrancken impressed by student of the game
Hearts have enjoyed a strong start to the season with one talent shining under Wouter Vrancken.
Wouter Vrancken reckons James Wilson has made positive Hearts strides towards competing consistently at senior level this season.
The teenage striker is highly-rated and has already been called upon by Scotland’s national team. His long-term future at the Premiership side was unclear earlier this year after a winter loan move to Premier League heavyweight Tottenham which came with an option to buy. While that wasn’t taken up, the 19-year-old returned in pre-season visibly stronger, following months in the Spurs system.
He netted in last week’s 3-1 Edinburgh derby win over Hibs at Easter Road to take his tally for this term to four goals from eight games before playing just over an hour in the dramatic 2-1 Tynecastle success over Dundee. Vrancken has been impressed by Wilson since working with him in pre-season, and while the forward may not have the physical traits that some opposing players have, work has been done to adapt him with this. It’s resulted in positive development steps being taken with goals breeding confidence for the Scotland striker.
How is James Wilson doing at Hearts
“I think he was from the first moment really coachable,” the Belgian head coach said of the Hearts academy graduate. “Really picking up things, and asking for feedback, and asking what to do in moments that he maybe doubted, and this was from the first moment. Then you see also the improvements that he makes and that he can also fight in games that are really physical because he's not got the physicality as maybe other players have. You have to be smart in this and I'm happy to see that he makes these steps. It's very important for his future.
“It's not only James, it's always a team effort, individuals can stick out when you do your job for the team. Then you get your moments, especially the offensive players, when you do your job for the team out of possession. Then you get your moments also in possession to shine. He did well and he wasn’t the only one. I'm happy that he could score again because you would like to see your attackers score because it gives them extra confidence.”
Sunday’s result over Dundee means by the time Hearts play their next home league match against St Mirren on October 10, they’ll have gone over 15 months without losing in Gorgie, against the Dark Blues in April 2025. Left-back Harry Milne notes that the game won by Sabah Kerjota’s 97th minute strike wasn’t their best, but Tynecastle comes with a noisy cauldron factor that home players thrive in, while opposing foes are left struggling. Hearts face Stenhousemuir in a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final this Friday at Ochilview.
"Obviously things didn't really go our way and we've played a lot better than we did in the first half,” Milne said. “So to come on to that at half-time, we know what's required, and we know that they're going to be probably sat in a bit more and make it difficult for us. And credit to them, once they got their goal they went about their game plan well, and they made it difficult for us.
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Why are Hearts so strong at home?
“I think at times we didn't have the required quality that we needed all over the park, but especially in the final third, where it wasn't really happening for us. But as we get into the latter stages of the game we start to put a bit more pressure, we start to get a lot more penalty box entries, and that's obviously where the penalty comes from. We've got players throughout our squad that can step up at the moment and it was Sabah this time.
“I think every team will strive to have this kind of home record. I think the fans obviously make it very difficult for the opposition and they're very encouraging. Once they get going here at Tynecastle you really hear them and they can be that extra support that you need. But there's obviously a familiarity with Tynecastle for us being our home.
“I think the boys enjoy playing here and for new signings as well, they want to do endear themselves to the fans, and impress. With our squad it's a high turnover players a lot of the time. There's a lot of guys eager to impress, a lot of guys that maybe feel like they deserve to be playing and when they get their opportunity, they're desperate to show. So I think all of that helps to keep everyone on their toes and for us to be a real force."