Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken backed lightning-quick Rogers Mato to get even better once he fully believes in himself.
The Ugandan winger marked his second start for the Jambos with a man-of-the-match display and a goal in Friday’s 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final win at Championship leaders Stenhousemuir.
Mato has had to be patient since arriving in January after being restricted to just three late substitute outings under previous boss Derek McInnes last term, but Vrancken has already afforded him five appearances this season.
“He’s really, really fast,” smiled the Belgian, whose side are now unbeaten in nine matches ahead of Tuesday’s William Hill Premiership trip to Falkirk. “I’m also happy to see that he has his moments, he scored his goal, because Rogers is just a really good guy, and he wants to do well.
“He’s really coachable, he wants to get the feedback, he wants to know in situations what he has to do when he doubts (himself).
“And he’s also a guy who overthinks, who’s always thinking in the game, ‘should I do this’, ‘should I do that’. He asks me this, and this overthinking he has to get rid of; this is improving with time, and you see him progressing there.
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“I’m happy to see that he feels good and that he took his moments, but not only in possession, also out of possession. In the second half, Stenhousemuir started targeting long balls to his zone, his area, but even in the aerial duels, he won those moments.
“I’m really happy for him, because the more players we can count on, the better.”
Yan Dhanda came in from the cold to add the third on Friday and notched the third against Stenny. The midfielder’s Hearts career appeared to be over after he spent last term out on loan at Dundee and then failed to get himself into Vrancken’s plans in the early weeks of this term.
However, long-term injuries to midfielders Tom Renaud and Blair Spittal paved the way for Dhanda to be included among the subs on Friday and he marked only his second appearance for the Jambos in 13 months with a well-executed close-range volley at Ochilview.
Asked if there was an opportunity for the former Ross County player to play a more prominent part going forward, Vrancken said: “Yes, everybody who was in the squad, who has been training with us, has to push themselves and has to push themselves to get as close as possible to the team.
“It’s good for him that he could take those minutes to find his game within what we want, and it’s good for him again that he can score a goal because it gives extra confidence.”
