Hearts seek midfield reinforcements following injuries to Spittal and Renaud
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 2:40 PM
Last updated Sep 7, 2026
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken is calling for squad depth to emerge after a series of injuries depleted his midfield options. The Scottish Premiership side managed a victory over Dundee on Sunday despite missing Tom Renaud, who sustained an ankle injury against Rapid Vienna, and Blair Spittal, who is sidelined with a shin issue from the recent derby win against Hibernian. Laurent Mendy and Tomas Magnusson started in the center of the pitch during the latest match to cover the absences. Vrancken confirmed the club is managing the recovery of Ageu cautiously after a series of injury setbacks since his arrival in August 2025. While the head coach acknowledged that the midfield is thin, he emphasized that the team must solve the personnel crisis internally rather than rushing players back to the pitch prematurely.
- •Tom Renaud is out with an ankle injury sustained against Rapid Vienna.
- •Blair Spittal remains sidelined with a shin injury from the Hibernian match.
- •Laurent Mendy and Tomas Magnusson filled the midfield roles against Dundee.
- •Ageu is nearing a return to fitness after missing time since August 2025.
- •Oisin McEntee provides a potential option for the midfield despite playing at center-back.
- 2:40 PMYahoo Sports — '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.
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