Heart of Midlothian

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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."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Striker Claudio Braga says Hearts always had the belief they could come back from a goal down and eventually grab all three points against Dundee at Tynecastle.

The Dens Park club led through a Bradley Fink goal in the first half until a late double, including a penalty by Braga, secured Hearts' fourth successive win in the league and took them into second place in the Scottish Premiership table.

After Hearts made some tactical changes at half-time they were always on top, with 19 attempts on the Dundee goal in the second half.

Braga says those changes were key to the outcome of the match.

"First half we were not ourselves in some ways and then we talked at half-time and we just needed to improve for sure," he told BBC Scotland.

"We know what we can do. We already proved that, so I think getting those two goals in the end shows character, but it's also a sign of relief of course.

"I think we had more personality in the second half, more not afraid to make mistakes. I think in some moments in the first half we were not dropping so much to get the ball and maybe there's no space because of that.

"If you don't move, the space will not be there. In the second half we just rotated a lot and asked for the ball a lot and then the spaces were open. The more we attacked, the more great chances, and then of course the confidence comes with that. I think that's what changed."

Braga says the exertions of playing in an Edinburgh derby on Thursday evening, combined with six European matches already this season, are taking their toll, but this cannot be used as an excuse at any time.

"I feel everybody's a little bit tired," he added. "A lot of games, but I think it's only for a good reason. It's because we're in European competition and we've been playing a lot of games and I think we just need to deal with that.

The Portuguese-born striker says that last season's exploits, in coming within minutes of becoming champions, were an indication the team are on the right track and that those outside who doubted Hearts' belief are now beginning to realise they can be a force again at the top end of the table.

Within the club, however, he says the belief was always there.

"I think from outside, yes. From inside, I think the belief was always there," he said. "Of course, a little bit better now because of results - if you win, the belief grows a little bit more - but the belief was always there.

"We just knew we needed to be patient and commit fewer mistakes and I think that's what we've been doing.

"We're showing we can play good football and enthusiastic football. Of course the belief grows a little bit and maybe from outside they believe a little bit more that we can do something this year, but from the group we knew that."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Scott Bain (Falkirk): Will he be Sebastien Pocognoli's Scotland number one? He did himself no harm against Dundee United.

Dujon Sterling (Rangers): Strong showing from the versatile defender in the weekend win over Motherwell.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic): Another impressive display at the back, winning 12 of his 14 duels in the victory at St Mirren.

Michael Forbes (Dundee United): Big goal to earn a point against Falkirk at Tannadice.

Jordi Altena (Hearts): A fine display at Tynecastle. Brave on the ball and at his best getting forward in the comeback win over Dundee.

Dan Neil (Rangers): Maybe his best game for Rangers since joining the club; good on and off the ball.

Jason Holt (St Johnstone): A 95% passing completion rate from the evergreen midfielder against Hibernian.

Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic): Another goal to underline his growing importance to this Celtic side.

Camilo Duran (Celtic): Perhaps the signing of the season so far - the Colombian always makes things happen and proved his worth again in Paisley.

Josh Fowler (St Johnstone): Both goals to sink Hibs from the former Queen's Park man; on another day he could have had a hat-trick.

Djeidi Gassama (Rangers): A tremendous display overall from a player who might finally be finding consistency at Ibrox.

We asked for your views after Hearts staged a late Scottish Premiership comeback to defeat 10-man Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Kris: More shambolic defending for Dundee's goal and it felt like one of those days until we got our rewards for never giving up. This club have all the excuses under the sun to feel sorry for themselves but they keep on fighting - very proud Jambo right now!

Steven: Snatch-and-grab victory and after all we have been through - I'll take it. The referee had a shocker of an afternoon - as did we - but we never stop trying to win games. Limbs in the stands for the winner!

Marie: Once again the subs save the day! I commented on this page after the Aberdeen game that the Wouter Vrancken experiment was a failure - humble pie for me, he keeps at it and played a huge part in the eventual victory with his subs.

Dave: A hard watch but the team stuck at it when the individual performances weren't that great, but we got the result regardless. It's important we celebrate this run and how good this team is. However, our luck could run out as a lot of players are being played out of position and central midfield seems to be the next area of concern.

Steve: That was a tough watch and I've no idea how we have come away with three points. So many poor individual performances on the day, I couldn't see us scoring - but that's football!

Alison: How a whole refereeing team can miss the most blatant penalty and red card - from a few feet away - boggles the mind. Dundee were very compact and we looked devoid of ideas. Takes the little magician to keep the three points in Gorgie. What a week of football.

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken: "First half was not good enough, we were looking at what was happening instead of taking it on. That's not who we want to be. There was not enough guts on the ball.

"One ball in behind, it's not possible to defend like this on one long ball. That's all we gave away, they didn't create another decent chance.

"Second half I was happy with the reaction. We were in the duels, had quality on the ball, pressed and dominated them. They were defending the result.

"We were patient, tried to get the ball round them. We had to be faster in these moments, but we showed conviction. We never gave up, we kept pushing and got what we deserved.

"Sabah [Kerjota] can play from the start. We have options on the wing, Josh [McPake] and Calvin [Miller] are doing great. But I know Sabah is a great player too. I will keep using him. In those moments, you need those kinds of players to turn things around.

"I'm happy he was decisive here because a player needs these things to build confidence.

"We don't mention fatigue before the game, because when you mention it to the players, it hits. We have to give full energy all the time. You can see fatigue at the end of the game, but not the beginning. When you're tired, you come off.

"It's no excuse. When you have two recovery days, it's not possible to recover fully. That's when you need game-changers, not only Sabah but Borch [Borchgrevink] was really good when he came on. JJ [Williams] did the things we wanted him to do, and Harry [Milne] getting his first minutes again.

"With Spitts, I also thought it was not that bad and then it was. It's a contact sport, but let's hope it's okay with Oisin [McEntee]."

Claudio Braga's penalty and Sabah Kerjota's brilliant low drive earned Hearts a dramatic Scottish Premiership victory over Dundee and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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The injury that Blair Spittal picked up in the 3-1 Edinburgh Derby win at Easter Road will keep him out for months, according to boss Wouter Vrancken.

The midfielder, who has captained Hearts this season, was substituted in the second half after twisting his ankle awkwardly in a tackle and in the post-match celebrations, he hobbled around the pitch on crutches.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, head coach Vrancken said that the Spittal will be missing "for more than a few weeks" - which will likely mean a change to the club's registered Conference League squad.

It leaves Hearts with three fit central midfielders - Laurent Mendy, Tomas Magnusson and new signing Leart Kabashi, as well as defensive hybrid Oisin McEntee.

Tom Renaud is already out for four months, having injured his ankle in the away game against Rapid Vienna. Eduardo Ageu is expected back soon having returned to first-team training this week.

The list of injured players at Hearts is already lengthy - Stephen Kingsley, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Craig Halkett, Ageu, Renuad, Finlay Pollock and Zander Clark are all out.

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken believes his in-form side still have scope for improvement after three straight Scottish Premiership wins.

The Jambos impressed on Thursday as they beat Edinburgh rivals Hibernian 3-1, stretching their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches.

The Tynecastle outfit host Dundee on Sunday as they try to continue that run.

"One hundred per cent, I think we can improve in quality on the ball, for sure," Vrancken said. "We have to try to push and to make those steps. It's ups and downs, we're human beings, so the level will drop at times, but that's not how we have to see it.

"We just have to work like this and it doesn't end here. We're just starting and we have to keep pushing to make improvements and try to improve our game.

"It gives confidence to the players when you have results and I think they have kept this momentum and kept this push, but we can still improve and we have a group who are willing to improve."

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Josh McPake "feels ready" for a Scotland call-up after an impressive start to life at Hearts.

The 25-year-old joined the Tynecastle club this summer having agreed a pre-contract back in January when he was still at St Johnstone and has forced his way into Wouter Vrancken's starting XI.

McPake set up teammate James Wilson for the opening goal in Thursday night's Edinburgh derby and scored one of his own as Hearts beat Hibernian 3-1.

New Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli was in the stands at Easter Road watching on as he prepares to select his squad for this month's Nations League matches against Slovenia, Switzerland, and North Macedonia.

"I do feel ready," McPake said when asked about a first international call-up for those games.

"When I was at St Johnstone, people would ask me all the time if I felt ready for the step up to Hearts, and I said 'yeah'.

"And I do feel like I'm ready for that step up, but it's not my decision to make.

"Hopefully performances like that [against Hibs] might help my case there. My goal was a massive one for everyone, I think.

"But I'm just taking it one game at a time at the moment. I've still got a good few games until the international break, so my full focus is on Hearts and things like that [Scotland] should come naturally."

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• Seven of the 10 goals in Dundee's Scottish Premiership games this season have come in the second half of matches, with the Dee scoring four of six goals after half-time and conceding three of four after the break.

• After their 2-0 win over Dundee United in August, Dundee could win back-to-back away league games for the first time since January 2025.

• Hearts have won each of their last nine home league games, a run that began in February. The last side to win 10+ successive Scottish Premiership home matches were Celtic in February 2025 (10), while the last non-Old Firm club (Celtic/Rangers) to do so were Aberdeen in November 2024 (10).

• Dundee have lost five of their last six Scottish Premiership visits to Hearts, winning the other 1-0 in April 2025.

• Hearts won all three of their league meetings with Dundee last season and are looking to win four in a row against them in the top-flight for the first time since October 2004.

Hearts fans, we asked for your views after Thursday's Edinburgh derby victory.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jim: Another excellent performance and result away from home against a very good Hibs side. Particularly impressed by the Hearts front four, the new Scotland manager should seriously look at them minus Braga of course. Fans are warming to the quality of the offensive set up employed by our new manager but still have some concerns regards our defensive set up, although Beau Reus could prove to be a real find.

Campbell: So much to be happy about with this team. However, our defence is the Achilles heel. In attack we look really good.

Alfo: Loving the way Wouter Vrancken has Hearts performing - we could have been out of sight after a dominant first half and even though Hibs came back at us, we once again showed the resilience needed to get the result. Great football from a team that's tough as old boots.

Frank: Get James Wilson's contract extended now with a generous wage rise.

Dougie: Laurent Mendy could have lost us the game, caught in possession couple of times which stopped us going forward and put us on back foot when he could have played easy passes. Great result, need to tighten up at the back.

Garry: Hearts playing lovely football. It's amazing how much one man can change the whole system, improve players and give them a real belief in their ability. A real breath of fresh air.

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Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken tells BBC Scotland: "We played a brilliant first half. We had to adapt a little bit.

"[We said at half-time] that the only they could come back in the game is if we give the moments away. I'm proud the lads kept their heads in the game.

"It was nice to see and it was also a nice atmosphere. [The fans] were really loud, it felt like a home game. But you have to be above the emotions so you have the overview and show the quality."

On the severity of Blair Spittal's injury, Vrancken adds: "I don't know yet, I don't think it's too bad."

Hearts won their second Edinburgh derby in a row with a rousing win at Easter Road.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Kilmarnock have signed centre-back MJ Kamson-Kamara on loan from Hearts until January 2027.

The 20-year-old joined Hearts this summer from English outfit Lincoln City following an impressive loan spell with Northern Irish side Glentoran last term where he scored five goals in 31 appearances from defence.

Kamson-Kamara made his Hearts debut during their Europa League qualifier against Benfica last month.

He will now link up with Neil McCann's side and could make his debut on Saturday at Aberdeen.

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Hearts have signed Swiss teenager Leart Kabashi from Grasshoper Club Zurich for an undisclosed fee.

The 18-year-old midfielder has penned a four-year deal at Tynecastle and could make his debut in tonight's Edinburgh derby clash against Hibs.

"A fast player on the ball with good technique and good finishes and a team player," Kabashi told HeartsTV about what fans can expect from him.

"I love to fight for the team, give my all for the team and have a big mentality."

Kabashi came through Grashopper's academy before linking up with the first team and made his debut in February last year. He scored his first senior goal in his second appearance for the club and has featured six times for the Swiss side since then.

The club say Kabashi is "comfortable in the middle of the park and with an attacking edge to his game."

Also adding he is a "highly regarded midfielder with an eye for goal."

When asked what attracted him to the Tynecastle club, Kabashi added: "the tradition, the fans the beautiful city and I think it's a familiar club and I can take the next step in my career here."

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Hearts have signed Faroese winger Aron Benjaminsen from Vikingur Gota for an undisclosed fee.

Benjaminsen, 18, has signed a four-year deal at Tynecastle and becomes the club's 12th summer signing.

He scored seven goals and chipped in with a further seven assists in 19 league appearances for Vikingur this season and could make his Hearts debut against Hibernian in Thursday night's Edinburgh derby.

"It's a dream come true," Benjaminsen told club media.

"Really nice to be here. It's good for me because it's a big step up. I think it's the right choice. I think I have become more of a man now.

"It was really nice [to score in Europe] I couldn't believe it."

"The stadium is really big and really cool. I'm excited to play and score."

Benjaminsen was in the Skala academy in the Faroe Islands before moving to Norway with Kristiansund in 2024.

He returned to his homeland earlier this year and has thrived in the Vikingur first team.

As well as his impressive domestic form, the teenager featured and scored in each leg of Vikingur's Conference League Qualifier against Stjarnan of Iceland.