Craig Halkett admits playing for Hearts on the European stage will be the biggest highlight in his footballing career to date.
Robbie Neilson's men will enter the Europa League play-off round with just 180 minutes separating them and a spot in the group stages. Should they lose at this stage they have the parachute of the Europa Conference League proper, guaranteeing six group games and a cool financial windfall for the Tynecastle club. Last season the Jambos finished third in the Premiership table behind champions Celtic and runners-up Rangers and narrowly missed out on silverware after a Scottish Cup Final defeat to the Light Blues at Hampden.
But despite the trophy near-miss, centre-back Halkett is 100 per cent in no doubt that playing Euro football will be the best so far. Asked if Hearts' European adventure would be a career high, he said: "Definitely, aye. “When I came to Hearts, that was something I had in the back of my head. That they were a club that could push for these sort of games.
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“Unfortunately it didn't go that way the first three years, but we've managed to do it.
"But 100 per cent it'll be the highlight of my career. Speaking to Andy [Halliday] and Craig [Gordon] who have experienced it before and say how good it is, it's something I'm massively looking forward to.
“Hopefully when they come, it's not just going to be about taking part and enjoying the experience. We want to put our stamp on it.
"We're a good team and hopefully we can pick up some points along the way."
Neilson has been busy in the transfer market as he looks to add fresh quality to his Hearts squad and increase the squad depth.
He's been actively vocal about bringing in attacking reinforcements after snapping up Alan Forrest, Kye Rowles, Lewis Neilson, Alex Cochrane and Jorge Grant so far this summer.
On his new defensive colleagues, Halkett added: "Lewis [Neilson] looked really good against Europa in Spain, I was really impressed.
“I’ve not met Kye Rowles yet but I watched the Australia v Peru game and he got Man of the Match. He looked really solid.”
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