Hearts go into tonight’s clash with Cercle Brugge with every chance of claiming a decent away result.
The Belgians are in the relegation zone of the Jupiler Pro League, sitting 14th out of 16 in the table. In the Conference League so far they have four points, gained from a 6-2 thumping of St Gallen and a draw with LASK. The other result was a defeat to Icelandic side Vikingur.
The Jambos are two points ahead of tonight’s opponents after beating Dinamo Minsk and Omonia Nicosia in their opening two matches before losing to Bundesliga outfit Heidenheim.
After getting a slight boost under new manager Neil Critchley they have fallen away slightly again with just one win in their last six matches.
Hearts are not currently scoring enough goals and their defensive record is a lot worse than last season’s so far.
But they have shown in Europe so far they can eke out results and will hold no fear heading to Belgium.
Critchley has flipped between a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 at times and it was the latter against Celtic at the weekend, with Brendan Rodgers admitting it had caught him out.
It could be argued he would stick with something similar for Europe but Cercle are not at the same level and can be got at.
Here, Not the Old Firm has predicted the line-up Hearts will go with.
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Predicted Hearts XI vs Cercle Brugge
GK – Craig Gordon – The goalkeeper continues to bely his 41 years and is Hearts’ undisputed number one.
RB – Adam Forrester – Critchley likes to rotate his full-backs and Forrester has done well in Europe so can come in for Daniel Oyegoke.
CB – Frankie Kent – A mainstay of the side and can be crucial to any success the Jambos have.
CB – Kye Rowles – Struggles domestically at time but seems to get on better in Euro games away with the rough and tumble of the Scottish Premiership.
LB – James Penrice – Penrice has been in top form and is suspended for the weekend’s trip to Aberdeen so doesn’t need rested.
CM – Beni Baningime – Such an important cog in how the team functions, both defensively and also in possession.
CM- Malachi Boateng – Starting to be just as influential as Baningime and they form an important ‘double pivot’ when paired.
LM – Blair Spittal – One of the team’s biggest goal threats, whether played wide or centrally.
RM – Alan Forrest – Offers pace and directness which the squad doesn’t have much of.
ST – Lawrence Shankland – Still not having any joy in front of goal but the team relies on him in plenty of other ways.
ST – Kenneth Vargas – Subbed against Celtic after controversial comments and arriving back late from Costa Rica. Vargas has apologised to teammates and could be brought back in for his pace.