Hearts’ record signing, Ageu, has had another injury setback revealed on the eve of the club’s Conference League campaign kicking off versus Nordsjaelland.

The midfielder made his first start since February during Saturday’s 5-0 Premiership win over St Mirren and was set to be added to the club’s ’ European squad for the league phase. Ageu would have come in as a late replacement for injured teammate Blair Spittal but boss Wouter Vrancken revealed the Brazilian, who’s started twice in total since arriving during August last year, is facing another lay-off after a new muscle injury was picked up in training on Tuesday.

“It’s a pity for him and for the team and for us in general, because he showed his qualities on Saturday,” said Vrancken. “Also after the game he felt good. Two days after we talked and he was explaining how good he felt and how eager he was to play the games in Europe. It’s a blow for him, but again you have to cope with it.

What is Hearts’ injury latest?

“But when you’ve been injured for such a long time, then it’s always step by step coming back and we have to accept and cope with those little things, so let’s hope that he’s fit and well really soon. He will be out longer than this weekend, we’ll see week by week.

“With muscles, it’s always difficult to say. We will for sure be protective and not push him too hard. He has to do his rehab again and work for what’s coming and stay in a positive mindset. It’s the only way you get back the fastest.”

Defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who has also just returned from injury, has been added to the European squad instead, so the versatile Oisin McEntee, who had been earmarked to play at centre-back, can now provide an option in midfield.

“We just managed to hold off (submitting the paperwork), so it’s Malachi instead of Ageu,” said Vrancken, also missing suspended midfielder Tomas Magnusson on Thursday. “With Oisin we can move him around a bit, and Calvin (Miller) can move around a bit. We know already when we lost Spitts and Tom (Renaud) that we’d be thin on this position but we’ve managed to do it (without them) until now, so we’ll do it tomorrow.”

Hearts face Nordsjaelland, Monaco and Borac at Tynecastle, with trips to Trabzonspor, Pafos and Thun. Vrancken believes his team, who defeated Rapid Vienna in the play-off round, are equipped to compete for a place in the Conference League knockout phase.

“When you compete in any competition, it’s not only to be there,” he said. “You have to want to succeed, to gain something, to aim for something. The games will tell if it’s possible or not, but it’s always the aim to go to the next round. It will be a big challenge, but we have to show ourselves and believe in the things we do and try to get through.”