Hearts' Defensive Blow: Harry Milne Ruled Out for the Season
Harry Milne, who shone as one of the top left-backs in the Scottish Premiership last season, has unfortunately seen his campaign cut short. The Heart of Midlothian defender is out for the remainder of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, as confirmed by head coach Wouter Vrancken.
The 29-year-old sustained the injury during a training session while gearing up for last Thursday's Conference League match against Trabzonspor. Milne, a vital player for the Tynecastle outfit over the past year, was honored with a spot in the PFA Scotland Premiership team of the year last season and was named one of Hearts' vice-captains just a few months ago.
"Harry is unfortunate; his season is over," Vrancken stated, as he prepares for Wednesday's home clash with Rangers, missing eight first-team players. "It was an ACL injury, which I suspected. There was some hope, but it’s just a bad break for him. He's had a tough time, but he's coming to terms with it."
Milne isn't the only casualty in the Hearts lineup, as Vrancken also reported that defenders Stuart Findlay and Christian Borchgrevink will be sidelined for longer. Although there’s optimism surrounding Blair Spittal's potential return before Christmas, the coach is less certain about midfielder Tom Renaud's timeline.
Despite a depleted squad, Hearts managed to secure a gritty 2-0 victory against Motherwell last Sunday. Vrancken indicated that his team will remain unchanged for their upcoming match against Rangers, which will see the return of manager Derek McInnes, who left Hearts in June.
"We’re maintaining the same focus we've had in several matches this season," Vrancken remarked, aiming to close the gap on second-placed Rangers, who sit four points ahead. "We want to win and achieve a positive result, even with injuries impacting the squad."
He emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence among the players. "We need to block out any negative emotions or distractions. They don’t contribute anything positive to our game plan, and we must stay focused on what we need to do on the pitch."
