Hearts boss Vrancken hopeful Findlay and Ageu can return before Sturm Graz clash

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has revealed he is hopeful that defender Stuart Findlay and club record signing Eduardo Ageu could be fit in time for the club’s Champions League qualifier away to Sturm Graz on 21 July, after both players returned to training.

Speaking during Hearts’ pre-season training camp in Spain, Vrancken confirmed that Findlay, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury, and Ageu, who has been recovering from a thigh problem, are back working on the training pitch but remain some way off full match sharpness.

The Belgian boss, quoted by the Daily Record, said: “I hope, yes. I don’t know if it’s possible, depending on their evolution. I think Eduardo is going well and we’ll see. I hope, at the end of the month. Same with Stuart, I think. But also they’re doing well on the pitch, so it’s going good.”

Vrancken stressed that he is not prepared to rush either man back given the demands of the season ahead. He added: “We don’t want to take risks, because it’s a long season. But at this moment, they’re not in the sessions with the group. So at this moment, it’s not possible and I think we have to see week by week, day by day.”

Cautious approach to returning players

The Hearts head coach continued: “I want as many good players as possible, but we’ll see step by step with them. It’s difficult to say at this moment.” His comments underline the delicate balancing act facing the club as they prepare for a crucial European qualifying campaign.

Vrancken has adopted a similarly careful approach with several other members of his squad during the pre-season trip. Pierre Landry Kabore, Claudio Braga and Tomas Magnusson all missed the recent friendly against St Mirren but have since stepped up their involvement in training.

Explaining the decision to hold the trio back from the fixture, Vrancken said: “Landry and Braga, they are in sessions already. We just didn’t want to burn them in the games because they did like two sessions, I think, before the game. Magnusson, he’s also training. Same as Braga and same as Kabore, actually. So, coming out of injury, don’t push them too much in the games directly. So it’s good that they have the sessions.”

Fagan-Walcott leaves camp early

Defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott had to return home early from the training camp, though Vrancken confirmed there were no concerns over the circumstances. He said: “Malachi, he did the sessions to begin and then for private reasons he had to go back. No problems with him.”

Hearts are due to face Sturm Graz in their Champions League qualifying tie on 21 July, with Vrancken keen to have as strong and healthy a squad as possible available for the tests that lie ahead in European competition.