Euro nights in Gorgie are "different"

Our long-awaited return to European group stage competition begins tomorrow evening in Gorgie, when Turkish outfit İstanbul Başakşehir come to town.
 
The boss knows all about the scale of test that lies in wait for the boys in maroon – but pinpointed the power of a “different” Tynecastle Park, as Euro nights return to Gorgie.
 
“It’s going to be a tough night, but it’s Tynecastle,” he told the press in his pre-match media conference. “We took on FC Zurich here and I thought we did pretty well. Hopefully we can see that energy and spirit around the ground and get this place rocking again.
 
“The last couple of results have been very disappointing – but we’ve since added to the squad and we’re starting to get guys back from injury. Hopefully now we can kick on.
 
“Recent results were far from good enough for the club, but sometimes these things happen in football and we have to move on. Istanbul are a different kind of team than Zurich – more possession based. They’ve got real strength and quality all over the park.
 
Tynecastle is just different on a European night. It’s full, raucous, night time football under the floodlights. You can see it already around the stadium, it feels different. I’m sure the boys will be ready.”
 
The manager also provided a squad update ahead of the match.
 
“Yeah, all good. Halkett’s still got a wee issue so will probably miss the game,” he added. “Other than that, just about everyone is available. Snoddy  (Robert Snodgrass) missed the deadline for Europe but, to be honest with you, at the age he’s at – that’s maybe not a bad thing. It allows him to focus on preparing weekend to weekend.”
 
You can catch the manager's full press conference on Hearts TV. Click HERE to watch.