Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken has told influential left-back Harry Milne he needs to try to ease the pressure he is putting on himself amid his challenging start to the campaign.
The 29-year-old was named in the PFA Scotland Premiership team of the year last term and was touted for a Scotland call-up after playing a key role in the Jambos’ stirring title challenge under Derek McInnes.
But Milne, named as one of Vrancken’s vice-captains in the summer, has been struggling to get back to his marauding best, albeit he was sidelined for most of August through injury.
The former Cove Rangers and Partick Thistle defender looked particularly out of sorts in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Falkirk before giving away possession for the Bairns’ winner and then being substituted soon afterwards.
“The thing is that Harry is the guy who gives himself the most criticism,” said Vrancken, whose side visit Kilmarnock on Saturday.
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“He’s very self-aware and he’s frustrated because he wants to reach his level of last season. But because of different things, also the injury, the short preparation and stuff like this, he wasn’t on his level he wanted to be.
“But I think the most important thing with him is – because I know he does everything necessary to get on his level – that the pressure he puts on himself maybe loosens up a bit so that he finds joy in things again and then grows to his level.”
Vrancken has no concerns about Milne’s ability to regain his form.
“I talked with him and about the difficulties in the game, but in general also,” he said. “But like I said, he puts the most pressure on himself. And OK, that’s good, but I think you have to give yourself some time to come to your best level and try to find the joy in what you are doing.
“But Harry is also mentally strong and he can get over things and he can handle things. And he will be back on a good level, I’m fully confident in it.
“I think he’s less confident than me in this! But I’m happy to see the guys pushing for their level instead of having to pick them up and drag them along to do something to get better.”
Milne was named in Vrancken’s leadership group in the summer and has been captain for five matches this term, but the head coach is adamant the extra responsibility is not having an adverse effect on his game.
“That’s no problem for me, it’s two different things for me,” he said. “It’s not because you wear the armband.
“It’s not only him, it’s a group of players who have to take the group in some difficult moments. He’s one of them and he does it very well so there’s no problem there.”
