Wouter Vrancken is counting the cost of more injuries as his side were edged out by Trabzonspor on matchday two of the Conference League

Trabzonspor 2 Hearts 0 (Salah pen 32', Franculino 58')

There wasn’t much Turkish delight for Hearts.

In fact this Conference League trip to Trabzon has been anything but sweet.

Wouter Vrancken’s injury-hit side battled hard but lost to big-spending Trabzonspor - who have ambitions of going all the way.

A Mo Salah penalty and another from Dju Franculino saw off the Jambos in a 2-0 win at Papara Park.

There is no disgrace in losing to Trabzonspor.

The Turkish powerhouse has spent fortunes to assemble this side, signing Salah, Fabinho and Franculino - who they paid £17 million for and rising.

The defeat wasn’t the biggest blow to Vrancken and his men.

They had travelled to Turkey more in hope than expectation.

This trip to the shores of the Black Sea had cost them a lot more - two of their first-choice full-backs.

Harry Milne looks to have done his ACL in training, while Christian Borchgrevink limped off with a hamstring issue.

Hearts now have a number of key players out injured.

The concern is that these injuries will take their toll as Hearts try to navigate the challenges of the domestic game and the upcoming Euro group games.

Now, the focus is on wrapping their players up in cotton wool and getting them rested and recovered for Motherwell on Sunday.

It is the start of a run that sees them play Rangers, Hibs in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final and then a trip to Thun in their next European outing. Things don't get any easier.

More Jambos injury woes

Before the game, the visitors lost Milne to a suspected ACL injury. The left-back suffered it during the pre-match training session at Papara Park. The Jambos fear the worst and Milne will get scanned when he returns to Scotland.

It left Stephen Kingsley as their only fit, senior left-back. Vrancken will have to manage his load and left him on the bench, albeit, he was needed sooner rather than later. The starting XI meant winger Rogers Mato played left-back, up against a certain Mr Salah. In fairness, the Ugandan did himself proud.

Milne's set-back was the last thing Vrancken or Hearts needed. Craig Halkett, Tom Renaud, Blair Spittal, Eduardo Ageu, Oisin McEntee and Stuart Findlay all missed this game. So Hearts went into this one without a recognised left-back and only one fit central midfielder. Sabri Guendouz was moved into the middle alongside Magnusson, who returned from his European suspension.

Fagan-Walcott rues big moment

A lot of eyes were on Hearts to see how they would respond after their seven-goal dismantling at Celtic on Sunday. Vrancken and James Wilson assured everyone in the pre-match press conference that it was out of their system. That certainly looked to be the case as Hearts made a really positive start. Borchgrevink’s cross-cum-shot was pushed over by Andre Onana as he scrambled back.

Calvin Miller curled in the corner and Malachi Fagan-Walcott rose highest but powered his header off the back post. Magnusson put it back in and Jamie McCart fired it across the goal. Miller curled in another free kick and Claudio Braga headed it right into Onana’s arms.

A moment of madness

It was a tale of two penalty decisions in the main first half talking points. Trabzonspor and their passionate fans were screaming for one in the 14th minute when Salah claimed his cross had come off Jordi Altena’s arm. The referee let it go but it went to a VAR review. It took them several minutes to come to a decision, much to the frustration of the home fans who whistled and howled their disgust. There was some early Hearts' relief when after the review, the play was pulled back because a Trabzonspor player had strayed offside in the build-up.

If Hearts had maybe got away with one there was no such dubiety about the Trabzonspor penalty that was awarded in the 30th minute. Franculino burst away and Magnusson clumsily came through the back of him. It was a cast-iron penalty and a moment of madness. Hearts had worked so hard and it had all been thrown out the window. It certainly was when Salah stepped up and cheekily Panenka-ed his penalty down the middle as Beau Reus dived to his left.

Borchgrevink stretches too far

Vrancken and Hearts must feel they are cursed right now when it comes to injuries. Borchgrevink tried to chase back and you saw him pull up with a hamstring issue. He tried to play on and made the tackle, but it was clear his hamstring had gone. Kingsley, who took the armband, was brought on for the Norwegian who had to hobble off. Hearts seems to have more injuries than Edinburgh Royal Infirmary just now. Reus had to make a few late saves in the final stages of the first half.

Turks Killer touch

Hearts continued to put in a shift. They had a good shape and defended manfully. They also made a few decent breaks but chose the wrong option when it came to the final pass. Trabzonspor continued to keep the ball and they just ramped up the pressure. It finally paid off with a great second goal. Franculino burst forward, played it through the legs of Mato then ran on and took the ball back from Salah and he rifled a shot high past Reus.

Vrancken made a few changes to give his team some late energy but they couldn't get the goal that the 400 plus strong Hearts’ support craved. In fact the Trabzonspor Ultra began to taunt them with chants of “Celtic”. It was cruel and that is the general overriding feeling from this trip to Turkey.

There was very little consolation even when Sidny Cabral was sent off for a second booking in stoppage time. The fans and players saluted each other after the game. They had all given their all, but it just wasn't to be!