There used to be a leather softener. Let me look for link.  Combine it with the stretcher.  Of course test to see how it affects shoe color.

https://www.amazon.com/FootMatters-Professional-Boot-Stretch-Spray/dp/B00NLM8EL6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?

put a little on a q-tip and apply it to the tongue of the shoe as the pants hem would cover that spot.

I would spray my boots and my wife's boots and use the stretcher it would take under 10 days to be good.

Well worth the money as foot blisters suck.