Heart of Midlothian

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Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media as Hearts prepare to return to Premiership action at home to St Mirren on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from the Tynecastle boss:

• Vrancken says the extended international break was "useful" in allowing players to switch off mentally and "renew the energy needed" for the upcoming busy run of games.

• He adds: "Nine games in four weeks, if I'm not mistaken. It's a cruel schedule, but we worked hard to get in this schedule. Especially the league phase, three of the nine are European games so we will try to do our best. We need all the players."

• Vrancken has added "more detail" to Hearts' training sessions during the break and says: "I think we have to still improve in every part of the game. We have to be more dominant and the decision-making on the ball can be still better."

• Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who has been out injured since late July, is in contention for a comeback.

• Vrancken will decide in the coming days whether injured midfielder Blair Spittal - who will miss at least the first three Conference League games - will be replaced in Hearts' European squad. "I think we have until Saturday to replace him if needed," said the Hearts boss. "We will talk first with the medical staff about how it's working out with Blair at the moment, where he stands now."

• Vrancken was delighted Josh McPake and Aron Benjaminsen made their international debuts for Scotland and the Faroe Islands respectively. On McPake, he says: "In the 20 minutes he played [against Slovenia], it's good for him that he could show all the nation he can make impact and be important in such a game. So I hope it also brings extra motivation and extra confidence when he plays for Hearts."

• After James Wilson dropped down to the Scotland Under-21 squad, Vrancken spoke with head coach Tony Docherty who was "really happy with his performance and leadership".

• The Hearts boss has sympathy for fellow Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli following his rocky start in charge of Scotland and says it "takes time" to implement a change of style.

• Vrancken praised St Mirren's "really good start to the season" and says Hearts have to be at their "top level" to extend their Tynecastle winning streak.

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

Tennent asked: Why have Hearts not brought in any free agents despite the glaring needs in defence and midfield after the injuries to our players in those positions?

Brian answered: An understandable question to ask.

However, with Malachi Fagan-Walcott due to return from injury, along with Stephen Kingsley and Oisin McEntee, who did a wonderful job before picking up his injury, there should hopefully be plenty of defensive options in the coming weeks.

Then there is the prospect of Craig Halkett returning around Christmas, while record signing Ageu is another player the entire Hearts family is keen to see on the pitch as quickly as possible.

Wouter Vrancken could find himself spoiled for choice in the coming weeks.

Calum asked: What has been particularly notable recently is the signing of young players like Aron Benjaminsen and Leart Kabashi. I wondered if you could discuss what the expectation for them in the medium to long term might be, how this model has worked for other Jamestown clubs, and if you think this is an avenue underexplored by other Scottish clubs?

Brian answered: Both youngsters will be given time to settle into their new surroundings, but it would be no surprise to see one or even both introduced into the first team over the next few months.

Long term, they will be expected to play a major part in the team.

Every signing is a risk, but you have to be realistic, especially with young players. The Jamestown system has already proved successful at Brighton, Union St-Gilloise and other clubs around Europe and beyond.

Patience is the key. One example is Croatian youngster Franjo Ivanovic. He was signed as a 21-year-old by Union St-Gilloise for around £2.5m. Twelve months later, he was sold to Benfica for close to £20m.

That is how the model works.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Are underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggesting a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league?

Well, the success stories at Motherwell and Falkirk last season seem to have had an influence.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was humble enough to reveal that Jens Berthel Askou - now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1 - has inspired him to change his ways after more than 15 years as a player and manager in Scotland.

Goodwin's side are one of a number of Premiership teams to have undergone a stylistic shift this term, and that is reflected in the league's overall numbers, albeit the sample size remains small after just seven matches for each club.

Compared with the previous five Scottish top-flight seasons, passes per game have soared to 886. That is an increase of 58 on last term. Five years ago, the average was 795.

Passing accuracy is also at a high of 81%, which is quite a remarkable increase on the 73% recorded in 2023-24.

That is down to more short passing. The percentage of long passes across the league (13%) is now at its lowest level of the past five years. Perhaps surprisingly, Hearts and Rangers go long more than any other teams.

Goodwin's United, meanwhile, have gone from average possession of 42% last term to 50% this season. Their accurate passes per match have rocketed from 219 to 320.

It is a similar story for St Mirren under Craig McLeish and Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, while league leaders Celtic and Alfred Johansson's Motherwell are locked at the top of the possession chart on 61%.

The promotion of St Johnstone back into the league, replacing Livingston, has added another side who aim to play a more expansive brand.

The recent appointment of Dutch head coach Marink Reedijk at Hibernian will only enhance that.

Read more: Why early-season data points to Premiership style shift

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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BBC Sport Scotland has been taking a look at away ticket pricing in Scottish football.

It is an issue which has been tackled at the highest level south of the border, with a £30 away ticket cap having been in operation in the Premier League for a decade.

Is anything similar on the agenda north of the border?

While it doesn't appear to be at the moment, we have been canvassing the thoughts of fans across the Premiership.

An adult away fan going to Tynecastle for a league game will pay between £26 - £35, depending on the fixture and where they sit, with concessions ranging from £7 to £25.

Hearts fan Greg Playfair says: "I think there needs to be a cap. It is not just the expenditure in terms of the ticket itself, it is the getting all around the country as well and especially with rising costs and public transport.

"But you cap away prices home supporters will say 'hold on, why is that supporter paying less than me?'. It is a tricky one."

Read more: Are SPFL away tickets too expensive?

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

David asked: Very pleased with progress so far this season considering the bad start we got off to after losing key people and the limited time for the new manager to implement his style. However, all has gone quiet on chief executive recruitment since Andrew McKinlay left meekly at the end of August. Can you get us an update, please?

Brian answered: This is a key appointment and the board are right to take their time to ensure they find the right person to take the club to the next level.

Chairman Calum Paterson is leading the search along with other board members and staff, but putting a timescale on it is very difficult.

It is much more important they find the right candidate rather than make a rash appointment simply to fill the position quickly.

Matty asked: Do Hearts believe internally they can challenge for the title sooner rather than later? Have Hearts let go of last season's 'injustices' and want to just move on, or are there still background meetings happening?

Brian answered: The 'injustices' of last season will always be there for everyone of a maroon persuasion.

The heartbreak of losing the title with only minutes of the campaign remaining will leave a mark for generations to come.

Hearts made more than enough protests to the relevant authorities and, just because there is no public statement being issued, that doesn't mean those within the club don't still feel the decisions made were simply not good enough.

As for the belief internally about challenging for the title, there is certainly a feeling last season was not a one-off.

What happened in the summer, with manager Derek McInnes and a number of players moving on, means the squad is in a transition phase. New players have come in and, after a few bumps early on, the team have started to pick up.

There is so much to look forward to this campaign and, with six European matches before Christmas along with a League Cup semi-final to come, Hearts fans are in for exciting times.

David asked: Is there an appetite for creating bigger stands and getting more capacity at Tynecastle? Logistically difficult, I know, but potential extra revenue would surely assist the club's ambitions.

Brian answered: As things stand, I don't feel there is an appetite for increasing capacity within the current footprint of Tynecastle.

Yes, it would be terrific, but the costs would run well into the millions and the emphasis at the moment will be on improving the team on the pitch.

Visit here again on Thursday for more answers to your questions. This is your Hearts page. Bookmark it, or if you're logged in on the BBC Sport app, press the bell icon at the top and select news alerts. If you're signed in on a browser, press 'follow' and you'll start seeing more Hearts content when on the site.

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Josh McPake is sure he should have earned a penalty on a Scotland debut that has whetted his appetite for more, despite a disappointing defeat to Slovenia.

The Hearts winger came off the bench at Hampden on 72 minutes, soon after the visitors had moved 2-1 in front.

The 25-year-old turned in a lively cameo on the left and fans were not the only ones bellowing for a spot-kick when he tumbled under a challenge from Zan Karnicnik.

"I was screaming," said McPake. "I don't know if it was outside the box, but contact was definitely there, so I was confused about what was happening.

"I thought it should have been a penalty, but it's not for me to decide that."

Referee Jose Maria Santos was in close attendance and immediately waved the appeals aside as Scotland fell to their second successive home defeat under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

"Obviously, on a personal note, to make my debut was brilliant, but it wasn't the result we wanted," McPake added.

"I thought I did well. I just wanted to bring a wee bit of positivity, forward-thinking, maybe getting at the full-back. That's what I'm all about.

"Being part of the set-up is brilliant, something I've always wanted to do and dreamed about.

"Amazing talent with players here like Andy Robertson and John McGinn, obviously brilliant players.

"So to be amongst that is really good, to see how they train, see how they work, day in, day out. It's been a learning curve for me."

Scotland conclude their Nations League campaign in November at home to North Macedonia and away to Switzerland and McPake is eager to add to his first cap.

"There's no guarantees for anything, but in my terms, it's keeping my head down, keep working hard and hopefully do the things that got me to this moment and keep doing that," he said.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

International breaks are funny things for football fans. One minute you're moaning about a Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedule, the next you're desperately searching for a Hearts fix anywhere you can find it.

Those keeping an eye on the KDM Trophy will have seen Hearts B suffer a bruising 14-0 defeat away to Ross County. There are mitigating circumstances, but it's impossible to ignore a scoreline like that.

It highlights a challenge the club faces. We have talented young players, but there remains a significant gap between academy football and competing against senior professionals.

That discussion feels particularly relevant given the attention currently being placed on youth development across Scottish football.

James Wilson's international call-up sparked plenty of debate. While there was excitement about his inclusion in the senior Scotland squad, his eventual move to the Under-21s felt like the right decision as Wilson needs minutes to gain greater experience.

Just look at Liam McFarlane. The goalkeeper has just turned 22 but has already amassed over 140 senior appearances.

While much is made of Jamestown Analytics and the club's evolving recruitment strategy, Hearts launched The Hearts Way earlier this year. The long-term objective was clear: create a pathway that consistently produces first-team players.

The infrastructure certainly exists. Hearts possess one of the strongest academy set-ups in Scotland. The summer departures of Alfie Osborne and Keir McMeekin to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively are evidence of the quality already being developed at Riccarton.

But an uncomfortable question lingers - where are the next Hearts academy graduates?

Wouter Vrancken recently indicated Swiss Albanian Leart Kabashi and Faroese Aron Benjaminsen will become more permanent members of the first-team squad after the international break.

Vrancken's job is simple: win football matches. If he can improve players, increase their value and help Hearts generate transfer income along the way, all the better.

I just wish there were a few more homegrown - even boyhood Hearts supporters - knocking on the first-team door.

Beyond Wilson and McFarlane, there doesn't appear to be an obvious next breakthrough candidate. Jaedon Donkor's recent hat-trick against Kelty Hearts caught the eye, but the pathway remains crowded in wide positions and opportunities may be harder to come by.

The academy debate will soon be parked as attention turns to what could be a defining month for Hearts.

The fixture list is relentless. Seven matches in 23 days, including a League Cup semi-final against Hibs, will test the squad and manager.

This is where we'll learn more about Vrancken. With games arriving every few days there will be little time for detailed work on the training ground.

Rotation will be essential, particularly with Hearts competing on three fronts. The challenge is finding the balance between freshness and momentum.

First up is St Mirren at home on a rare Saturday 3pm kick-off. Incredibly, it's the last one Hearts fans will get in 2026.

What would you like to ask our Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin about Hearts?

He is in the hotseat, ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Put your questions to Brian here.

Heart of Midlothian's 18-year-old summer signings - former Vikingur Gota forward Aron Benjaminsen and former Grasshopper Zurich midfielder Leart Kabashi - will begin challenging for competitive game time once the international break ends. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Meanwhile, Hearts duo Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Oisin McEntee will be fit to return to action against St Mirren this weekend after injury. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Hearts' upcoming Conference League opponents, Nordsjaelland, lost 3-0 in a friendly against Malmo as they prepare to return to league action against Odense on Friday. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken revealed he turned down a job in Bulgaria worth double the offer by the Tynecastle club but believes he made the right decision. (National - subscription required, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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The Tennent's Sixes returns for the first time in 26 years this weekend, albeit in a legends format.

The original version featured first-team players and ran from 1984 until 1993.

Among the men who helped make the headlines was John Roberston, aka "the Hammer of the Hibs", Hearts all-time top scorer with 310 goals in the 11-a-side game.

He banged in plenty in the short lifespan of the sixes too, including three in the 1985 final as Hearts beat Greenock Morton 4-1.

Robbo, who was capped 16 times for Scotland and scored three for the national team, was also top scorer in the 1987 tournament in which Hearts were runners-up.

He picked up his second winners medal in 1991, when Hearts beat Motherwell 5-2 in the final.

"We won it twice, but winning at Ingliston, near Edinburgh Airport, was fantastic as there was a massive Hearts support in for the last group games and the semis and finals," Robertson, now 62, recalls. "That was incredible and to score a hat-trick in the final was great.

"There were a lot of good six-a-side players, mostly wingers and attacking midfield players, as it was perfect for them to show their passing and dribbling skills, and we had some of the best of them.

"Gary Mackay, John Colquhoun, Kenny Black, Jimmy Bone and Willie Johnstone, who had played pro six-a-side football in North America and knew the game inside out.

"Throw in defenders like Craig Levein, Neil Berry and Brian Whittaker with a shot-stopper like Henry Smith and you can see why Hearts did well in the competition.

"Teams took it very seriously, indeed, and there were some meaty challenges put in with the occasional ice hockey style check on to the boards by some very exuberant defenders."

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Hearts have sold out their full ticket allocation for the League Cup semi-final with Edinburgh rivals Hibs at Hampden next month.

The capital club will be backed by about 20,000 fans in the derby at the national stadium on 1 November as they look to reach the final for the first time since 2013.

Should they defeat Hibs for the second time this season, Wouter Vrancken's side will face Rangers or Aberdeen for the trophy on 13 December.

Hearts are four-time League Cup winners but have lost their past four semi-finals in the competition.

At £132m, Rangers have overtaken Celtic by nearly £19m as having the most valuable squad in Scotland after a 4.6% increase this summer, with Hearts third at £22m after a 15.5% increase, but St Mirren have the biggest percentage increase at 18.6%, with Hibernian the biggest drop at 10%. (Transfermarkt, external)

Fit-again midfielder Eduardo Ageu scored as Hearts beat Dundee 4-3 in a training match, while Malachi Fagan-Walcott as the defender also returned from injury. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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We asked you to rate Hearts' season and tell us what Wouter Vrancken should be focusing on during the international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Simon: Hearts' season has gone roughly as I expected. Massive influx of new players, new manager with a different style. It was always going to need a period of adjustment. Some positive signs going forward. Could benefit with some improvement defensively. 7/10 so far.

Derek: A lot more positive than I thought it was going to be - gutted midfield, new manager, talisman gone, gubbed by Graz, it looked bleak. Vrancken has turned out to be brilliant, he plays attacking football, and it's been a nervy joy to watch. If we get the defence sorted we could really be on to something this season, especially since the Old Firm are still nothing to fear. A cup semi-final against Hibs is mouthwateringly exciting and there's far more positives than negatives so far.

Alasdair: Unreal going forward but hapless in defence - If Wouter can stop us shipping stupid goals from simple balls over the top we could be on for a great season but time will tell. High risk, high reward but the defence really needs sorted.

Chris: The sheer effort required to qualify for Europe took its toll and it's unfortunate we didn't strengthen the defence before the window closed - despite being exceptionally thin on the ground. The international break is fantastic for us to allow players to rest up and get ready for another busy few months of football!

Jim: I am pleased and encouraged by Hearts' start. Taking account of the lack of time the new manager had with the players I did not expect a winning start. However, it is becoming clearer the squad have bought into his style of play and progress has been impressive to date. October will answer several questions about the squad's strengths and weaknesses with a congested fixture list of tough games.

Eoin: I am happy with the start to the season. Obviously playing Strum Graz and Benfica are tough but we have pulled through, got into a semi-final and the Conference League.

Stuart: Considering the upheaval, Hearts are in a solid place and about where I would expect them to be. A good foundation for the rest of the season but more work to be done. Great to have a manager wanting to play attacking football.

Defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott and midfielders Oisin McEntee and Finlay Pollock could feature for Hearts in their bounce game against Dundee as they work their way back from injury. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Former Heart of Midlothian coach Darren Murray is launching a new player development programme aimed at changing Scottish football. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

With the domestic season on pause, it is time for Hearts to take a breath and reflect on what has been a whirlwind start to the season.

For new head coach Wouter Vrancken, there was precious little time to settle in before the European qualifiers arrived in mid-July.

Since then, Hearts have played 15 matches in just 61 days with a record of six wins, four draws and five defeats.

On paper, that might not look particularly spectacular. But four of those five defeats came in the opening four matches, highlighting just how much progress has been made since the difficult early weeks.

There have been plenty of reasons for optimism.

The six victories included Vrancken's first Edinburgh derby, while the dramatic penalty shootout success over Rapid Vienna - after Hearts had been reduced to 10 men - provided another memorable night for supporters.

That result also secured European football through to December and helped change the mood around the club.

When an unnecessarily long international break finally ends, the focus will turn towards an equally demanding schedule.

Hearts will play 16 matches between their return to action and the end of the year.

There is a League Cup semi-final at Hampden against city rivals Hibernian, home and away league meetings with both Rangers and Celtic, plus another Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle.

And that is before you factor in six Conference League matches, with trips to Turkey, Switzerland and Cyprus.

It is a tough run but also offers an opportunity to measure just how far this Hearts side have developed under Vrancken.

For now, though, there is a genuine sense of anticipation around Gorgie.

The difficult opening weeks have given way to progress, European football has been secured and big occasions lie ahead.

If the first part of this season is anything to go by, the next few months could be quite a thriller.

As the extended international break continues, we want to hear your thoughts on Hearts' opening seven games in the Scottish Premiership.

After a summer of upheaval new head coach Wouter Vrancken's side sit third in the table, although they took just one point from two league games before the hiatus.

Hearts have a League Cup semi-final against rivals Hibs to look forward to on 1 November, plus their Conference League campaign gets under way in a fortnight.

How do you rate Hearts' start to the season and why? And what should Vrancken be focusing on during the extended break?

Share your thoughts here.

The Scottish Football Association has told Heart of Midlothian it believes the decision to disallow a goal scored against Kilmarnock in last week's 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw for a hand ball by midfielder Laurent Mendy was the correct one. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Sabah Kerjota, the 25-year-old winger who joined Hearts from Sambenedettese last year, says his journey from Italy's Serie D to a first call-up by Albania is proof that data-driven recruitment can make dreams come true. (Daily Record, external)

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip in full.

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Hearts centre-back MJ Kamson-Kamara made his Sierra Leone debut in Thursday night's AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe.

Kamson-Kamara, currently on loan at fellow Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, played 34 minutes as Sierra Leone were beaten 3-2 by Zimbabwe in their Group E game.

The 20-year-old, who joined Hearts from Lincoln City this summer, becomes the first Jambo to represent the West African country.

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken will take a break in his Belgian homeland before returning for some rigorous training with his side. (Record - subscription required, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip