Hearts fans had to rub their eyes when they saw themselves up with the likes of Chelsea in the Conference League table after two games.
The Jambos had a 100 per cent record at that stage, managing to win their first two matches under interim Liam Fox against Dinamo Minsk and then under new manager Neil Critchley against Omonia Nicosia.
It was a brilliant start which gives the Tynecastle men, struggling at the wrong end of the table domestically, a great chance of qualifying for the knockout stages in Europe for the first time in decades.
A good display against Heidenheim couldn’t return another result as they lost to the Bundesliga side.
But with away games against Cercle Brugge and Copenhagen and then Moldovans Petrocub to play at home, there is a good chance of picking up the necessary points to see them through.
Brilliant Cammy Devlin Hearts stat in Conference League
Everyone knows what type of player Cammy Devlin is. A terrier, or rottweiler, in the middle of the park.
That is not meant in a derogatory way as he can contribute by other means too. It’s just that his ball-winning and energy in the middle of the park are so good.
Often saving his biggest performances for Europe, the Australia international was the matchwinner against Rosenborg last year and starred against Zurich a year before.
Admittedly not always at his best this season or last, he has been steadily improving, but is still not a regular starter with Malachi Boateng and Beni Baningime both seemingly preferred when fit.
However, his value is still appreciated and manager Critchley picked him out as one of the best performers in the win over Omonia.
And one stat underlines just what Devlin brings to the Hearts team.
He is tied with Serbian midfielder Milan Radin of TSC Backa Topola for the most tackles completed in the Conference League after three matchdays.
That’s despite Devlin only starting two of Hearts’ matches, playing just the last 26 minutes of the Heidenheim clash.
Devlin Hearts stats this season
Devlin has started six league games for Hearts this season, coming on as a sub in five. There’s those two starts in the Conference League, one as a sub, and another sub appearance in the league cup.
He has no goals and one assist but, as outlined above, that isn’t really his game.
In the Premiership, the 26-year-old is in the top seven percentile of midfielders for defensive actions won.
He has won 15 tackles which places him in the top 14 per cent for midfielders, winning 60 per cent of his attempted tackles.
He has also made 44 ball recoveries which is better than 76 per cent of players in his possession.
Where there could be an improvement is in possession or that attacking side of the game.
Devlin has an xG of 0.66, which is reasonably high for his position, but hasn’t found the net once. He has only taken on four shots and that xG suggests he has had opportunities to go for goal more.
To be fair to him, he has had 284 successful passes which places him in the top 17 percentile for midfielders in the league.