Vrancken on Ageu injury, European ambition & Nordsjaelland

Brian McLauchlin - BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter Wed, October 14, 2026 at 3:11 PM UTC

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media prior to his side's Conference League opener against Nordsjaelland on Thursday (20:00 BST). Here are the key lines: A muscle injury to midfielder Ageu, who has endured an injury-plagued spell at Tynecastle since becoming Hearts' record signing just over a year ago, means he has been replaced by Malachi Fagan-Walcott in the European squad. Vrancken confirms there are no other major injury concerns, with Stephen Kingsley and Josh McPake both fit and available. Vrancken describes Nordsjaelland as a "young team with a lot of energy". "They're good on the ball, they try to build up from the back," he adds. "They have good players and they dare to take those risks. It's a really good side to play against and it's a good challenge for us." The Belgian coach says Hearts have taken a "massive step" since the summer but can still improve in all aspects of the game. He insists the squad's "ambition" must be to progress in the Conference League. "When you compete in a competition, it's not only to be there," he says. "You have to want to succeed, to gain something, to aim for something. Then the games will tell if it's possible or not, but it's always the aim to go to the next round." Vrancken says he will "never" use the busy schedule as an excuse if the team don't win, adding: "I would be more disappointed if we didn't play those games. Of course, the big teams want to play these games, but you also need the [depth] of the squad with a lot of quality players."

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media prior to his side's Conference League opener against Nordsjaelland on Thursday (20:00 BST).

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Here are the key lines:

A muscle injury to midfielder Ageu, who has endured an injury-plagued spell at Tynecastle since becoming Hearts' record signing just over a year ago, means he has been replaced by Malachi Fagan-Walcott in the European squad.

Vrancken confirms there are no other major injury concerns, with Stephen Kingsley and Josh McPake both fit and available.

Vrancken describes Nordsjaelland as a "young team with a lot of energy". "They're good on the ball, they try to build up from the back," he adds. "They have good players and they dare to take those risks. It's a really good side to play against and it's a good challenge for us."

The Belgian coach says Hearts have taken a "massive step" since the summer but can still improve in all aspects of the game.

He insists the squad's "ambition" must be to progress in the Conference League. "When you compete in a competition, it's not only to be there," he says. "You have to want to succeed, to gain something, to aim for something. Then the games will tell if it's possible or not, but it's always the aim to go to the next round."

Vrancken says he will "never" use the busy schedule as an excuse if the team don't win, adding: "I would be more disappointed if we didn't play those games. Of course, the big teams want to play these games, but you also need the [depth] of the squad with a lot of quality players."

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