Key Defenders Return to Training
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has confirmed that influential defender Stuart Findlay and club record signing Eduardo Ageu are back in training, providing a significant fitness boost ahead of the Champions League qualifiers. The Belgian coach, speaking from Spain where Hearts are on a pre-season training camp, expressed cautious optimism that both players could feature in the crucial Euro tie against Sturm Graz on July 21.
Vrancken's Cautious Optimism
When asked if the duo could be available for the Champions League matches, Vrancken 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." 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. 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."
Injury Details and Squad Updates
Findlay has been sidelined with an ankle injury, while Ageu has been recovering from a thigh issue. Vrancken has adopted a safety-first approach during the Spanish training camp, with several other players also managing fitness concerns. Pierre Landry Kabore, Claudio Braga, and Tomas Magnusson did not feature in the friendly against St Mirren but have stepped up their training. Vrancken confirmed: "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."
Malchi Fagan-Walcott Returns Early
Defender Malchi Fagan-Walcott has had to return early from the training camp for personal reasons. Vrancken stated: "Malachi, he did the sessions to begin and then for private reasons he had to go back. No problems with him."
Transfer Window Focus
The Hearts boss also expressed his desire to keep midfielder Cammy Devlin at Tynecastle, as the club looks to strengthen its squad for the upcoming season and European campaign.
