'Other guys have to step up' amid midfield injuries - Vrancken

Head coach Wouter Vrancken says Hearts fringe players must "step up" amid a spate of midfield injuries. Laurent Mendy and Tomas Magnusson started Sunday's Scottish Premiership win over Dundee with Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud both out with long-term injuries. Renaud picked up an ankle problem in the recent Conference League play-off victory away to Rapid Vienna, while Spittal suffered a shin injury in Thursday's derby victory over Hibernian. "This is a thing for the club," Vrancken said, when asked if Hearts would consider free agent signings. "I think we're really thin there, from my perspective." Club-record signing Ageu is nearing a return to action after the latest in a series of injuries since joining in August 2025 and would provide a solution, while Oisin McEntee, who has been playing at centre-back, can also play in midfield. "A guy like Ageu, of course you want to have him as soon as possible, but we cannot skip steps and at any moment you bring him, we have to look out for him," Vrancken said. "We cannot rush it with him, that's for sure, because otherwise we take too much risk with the player and that's something I for sure don't want to do. But we have to solve it. Other guys have to step up."