Rogers Mato is ready to continue answering Hearts’ defensive call as the Uganda international prepares for a Rangers test carrying added emotion at Tynecastle Park on Wednesday night.
The encounter brings former Hearts manager Derek McInnes back to Edinburgh, with Mato’s side seeking a second successive Scottish Premiership victory and an opportunity to close the gap on their visitors.
Hearts are third on 19 points, four behind second-placed Rangers after 10 matches each. Victory would put them within a point of McInnes’ team.
For Mato, the immediate task is helping a depleted squad cope with injuries that have taken him from his usual attacking role to both sides of the defence.
The 23-year-old played at left-back against Trabzonspor in the UEFA Conference League before switching to right-back for Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Motherwell, his first Premiership start.
“When you look at the injuries, we don’t have a choice, we need to be there for the team and help in any way we can,” Mato said after the Motherwell match.
“I just need to go there in any position and give 100 percent to help my teammates.”
Injury concerns deepen
Head coach Wouter Vrancken’s pre-match update underlined why that versatility remains important.
Harry Milne will miss the remainder of the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage, while Christian Borchgrevink is unlikely to return before the November international break. Stuart Findlay also remains unavailable for Rangers’ visit.
There is a longer wait for other absentees. Blair Spittal is expected back before Christmas, while Tom Renaud has resumed running but is not expected to return until 2027.
Borchgrevink’s injury in Turkey opened the way for Mato to start on the right of the defence at Fir Park, where goals from Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller secured three important points.
The result followed successive defeats against Celtic and Trabzonspor and gave Hearts encouragement ahead of another demanding assignment.
“Look at the travel, the wind here, playing away, less time resting and the energy the players have given. It’s massive. These are three important points for us,”Mato said.
Vrancken calls for focus
Much of the attention before kick-off has centred on McInnes, who left Hearts for Rangers in June after narrowly missing out on the league title.
Vrancken, however, wants his players to concentrate on their responsibilities rather than the reception awaiting his predecessor.
“Focus on what you have to do on the pitch because we want to win the game,” he said.
The Belgian believes victory would provide a significant lift for his depleted squad, although he does not consider the fixture decisive at this stage of the season.
He also played down the potential advantage of McInnes’ knowledge of Hearts, pointing to changes in playing style and the increased involvement of players who had fewer opportunities last season.
Mato’s recent contribution offers an example of the responsibility being shared around the squad.
He has made 10 appearances across all competitions this season, including four starts, with two League Cup goals and an assist in Conference League qualifying.
His most demanding defensive assignment came in Turkey, where he faced Mohamed Salah as Hearts lost 2-0 to Trabzonspor.
Salah scored a penalty and provided the assist for Franculino’s goal, but Mato took confidence from testing himself against the Egyptian.
“It was a great experience for me as a player and us as a whole team,” he said.
Asked whether facing Salah meant he could compete against anyone, Mato replied: “Of course.”
McInnes expects demanding return
Rangers arrive after beating St Johnstone 4-0, with McInnes reporting no fresh injury concerns from that match.
That update does not mean a fully fit squad, with former Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland among those unavailable.
At his pre-match press conference, McInnes acknowledged that supporters were unlikely to welcome him warmly following his summer departure.
He also spoke positively about Hearts’ prospects and praised Braga, whose influence Rangers will need to contain.
McInnes expects a fast, fiercely contested match, warning that his players will have little time on the ball against opponents capable of pressing aggressively and moving possession quickly.
“You need to be on your game and ready for that, so that will be part of the message,” he said.
Mato, meanwhile, has already made clear that familiarity with the visiting manager will not soften Hearts’ approach.
“We are playing a former coach and we will be pleased to play him, let him come knowing it’s a dead end here,” he said.
“We are fighting for every game, and every game we need to give 100 percent because it boosts our confidence.”
Whether deployed in defence again or restored further forward, Mato goes into the Rangers clash with an increasingly important role in Hearts’ effort to turn Sunday’s recovery into sustained momentum.