Hearts have what head coach, Wouter Vrancken, called a “tough draw” in the UFA Conference League, but he is excited and looking forward to the challenge.
Liverpool legend, Mo Salah, could feature in the clash at Turkish side, Trabzonspor, who are fourth in the Supe Lig, and they also travel to FC Thun, who are 9th in the Swiss Super League and FC Pafos who play in the Cypriot First Division. Their season has not kicked-off yet.
They entertain AS Monaco, who are fifth I Ligue 1, at Tynecastle along with FC Borac Banja Luka, currently third in the Premier League of Boznia and Herzegovina, and FC Nordsjaelland, third in the Superliga and from the Danish town of Farum.
The fixtures are on October 15 and 22, November 5 and 26 and December 10 and 17 and actual dates will be confirmed in the next few days.
Hearts won through to the league phase thanks to their batting performance at Rapid Vienna in midweek, coming through in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout after being down to ten men for the later stages of the game.
Vrancken’s men have to wait almost a month said: “I think it is a tough draw, but nice teams like Monaco. When you have a draw like this you know you are going to play some really nice teams. In pot five and six, we were unlucky with some of the best team, but, again we will put everything into it. We will see.”
He was asked if it would be difficult to park Europe for a month, but the Belgian-born coach said: “It is not about parking stuff, it is about playing games as they come and we now have to look at the game tomorrow (v St Johnstone).
“Our focus point now is St Johnstone.”
