SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - APRIL 4: Patson Daka of Salzburg during the tipico Bundesliga match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz at Red Bull Arena on April 4, 2021 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Chris Bauer/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken is searching for answers in attack as his side prepares for a Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz on July 21.
The Belgian has been in charge for fewer than four weeks and faces the enormous challenge of assembling a competitive side in a compressed timeframe.
Hearts have played three pre-season friendlies, deploying over 40 players across those matches, recording wins over St Mirren and Kilmarnock alongside a defeat to Livingston.
Eight goals scored and four conceded paints a picture of a side still finding its feet ahead of a high-stakes European night in Austria.
Vrancken has two more friendlies remaining before the qualifier, with Hearts set to face Arbroath in Colin Hamilton’s testimonial at Gayfield before hosting La Liga side Rayo Vallecano at Tynecastle on Friday.
After those fixtures, there will be no further opportunities to test combinations, with the manager confirming the preparation schedule is essentially complete.
Vrancken said: “It’s not possible anymore. Otherwise you play too many games and minutes and it’s not possible.”
He added: “The preparation towards the Sturm Graz game is really, really short. Not so many friendlies. I saw every player like 45 and 60 minutes. So it’s not a lot.”
The context makes this challenge even sharper, with Hearts having lost their captain, two vice-captains, and much of the spine that defined the squad in recent seasons.
Victory over Sturm Graz across two legs would guarantee Hearts a minimum Europa League league phase spot, with the Champions League riches moving into clearer sight.
In midfield, Tom Renaud appears the likely short-term answer to fill the void left by Cammy Devlin, based on his performances during pre-season.
The bigger questions remain in the final third, where Claudio Braga is expected to feature despite growing speculation surrounding the reigning player of the year.
Whether Landry Kabore, who scored against Kilmarnock, partners Braga or whether the Portuguese leads the line alone is still to be determined ahead of the Vallecano fixture.
Summer signing Calvin Miller impressed against Livingston and is pushing for a starting role, with Vrancken planning to move the former Falkirk winger back onto the flank after using him as a number ten in West Lothian.
Questions also remain over the right side of attack, with Josh McPake, Amadou Ba-Sy, Sabri Guendouz, Rogers Mato, and Sabah Kerjota all competing for positions.
Against Livingston, Hearts created plenty but struggled to convert, with Braga and Renaud both denied comfortably by Jerome Prior after chances crafted by Miller.
Elton Kabangu also spurned a one-on-one late in the game as Hearts chased an equaliser that ultimately never came.
The one goal that did arrive came through a polished team move, with McPake feeding Renaud, whose pass released Miller, and Renaud converting the rebound after Prior saved the winger’s initial effort.
Vrancken was candid about the need for his players to sharpen their instincts quickly, saying: “You see them still thinking about things. So it has to be now more natural.”
He struck a measured but determined tone, adding: “It’s a pity. But that’s what our preparation is for,” as Hearts push to be ready for the biggest early-season test the club has faced in twenty years.
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