Darren Barr managed to avoid Luis Suarez’s infamous gnashers on European duty with Hearts but reckons the Jambos can sink their teeth in to continental competition this term.
The former Tynecastle defender is delighted his old club are gearing up for Europa League action in a few weeks and it’s brought back memories of his run out against the big guns a decade ago. Barr was part of the Paulo Sergio side who squared up to Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool in the qualifiers – and he was handed a marking job on the Uruguayan toothy terror at set pieces.
The Jambos ran the Reds close over two dramatic legs in 2012, a late Andy Webster own goal giving the Anfield men the lead going back to Merseyside. But David Templeton’s strike, fumbled in by Pepe Reina, late on down south levelled the tie to stun the Kop and ignited dreams of a shock. Unfortunately Suarez gobbled up a winner with a couple of minutes to go but the experience has stuck with Barr and he reckons Robbie Neilson’s class of 2022 should relish their chance of a Euro feast.
