Hearts’ already-bleak injury luck worsened today when it emerged defender Harry Milne could miss the rest of the season. He damaged a knee during Wednesday’s pre-match training session for the UEFA Conference League tie against Trabzonspor in Turkiye. He will return to Edinburgh in a protective boot and on crutches, and a scan on Friday will confirm the full extent of the problem.

It is expected that Milne will be out for several months and may not play again until next season. Hearts staff are fearing the worst for the left-back but hoping for some kind of positive news. Milne has been a regular in the team this season under head coach Wouter Vrancken and any prolonged absence would be another problem for the Belgian to contend with.

He is already without long-term injury victims Craig Halkett, Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud, while Oisin McEntee did not travel to Trabzon because of a calf problem. Centre-back Stuart Findlay also remained at home because of a groin issue. Another midfielder, Eduardo Ageu, is sidelined with a muscle complaint at the moment.

Stephen Kingsley is not in the team to face Trabzonspor because his workload is being managed during a hectic schedule of games this month. The extent of Hearts’ injury problems is underlined by teenager Gus Stevenson being named among the substitutes this evening. Finlay Pollock is also named on the bench despite being out injured since April 2025. Full-back Jordi Altena is expected to fill a midfield role to compensate for the lack of options in that department.

The club have so far resisted any temptation to enter the transfer market for free agents and thus reinforce their squad. It is understood that option won’t be considered yet, for Tynecastle officials would prefer to wait until the January transfer window opens to bring in some new recruits. However, their 33-man first-team squad is now becoming increasingly threadbare due to relentless injuries.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Papara Park on Wednesday, Vrancken gave his thoughts on why Hearts are suffering so many injury problems. “We are always coming back to the root of it,” said the manager. “For me, getting the foundation right is important, where you are not having the fatigue in your legs when you are having to play for results. You have to build from there.

“It is like the foundation when you build a house - if the foundation is strong then you can build whatever you want on it when it is strong. When the foundation is not top then there will be cracks and you will need to cement it again. We have to keep building up the foundation using all these games. We have to manage the players and the minutes and hopefully the guys can go out tomorrow and do well.

“I have never experienced in my career injuries and all in the same position. [midfield]. At the same time, we have to get over it and trust in the guys who are playing in the positions. They will get full support there and we will go no the pitch the belief that we can do something and show something.”