Lawrence Shankland insists Hearts return to league duty tomorrow buoyed by the fact that they are more than capable of salvaging their Europa Conference League tie against Rosenborg.
Following Thursday’s 2-1 third qualifying round first leg defeat in Norway, Hearts will aim to make it two wins from two domestically when they host Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Four days on from that game, Rosenborg will attempt to at least preserve the slender lead built up from the first game.
Hearts found themselves two goals down at the break in Trondheim and for long spells the Gorgie side lacked any real threat going forward.
Shankland’s header in the 78th minute, however, has given Hearts renewed hope of setting up a play-off round clash with either PAOK or Hajduk Split.
Shankland, who marked his 28th birthday with the goal, said: “It was important we were still in the tie and they are a good team to be fair, especially on the break and that’s where their two goals came from really.
“A poor free kick from our part, I don’t think it was a free kick but we don’t set up from it and they get a goal and get another on the counter before half-time.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb but the plan was in the second half to go and get a goal and get ourselves back in the game and make sure we were in the tie going back to Tynecastle and we managed to do that, so we can take the positives from that.
“It changes the momentum, don’t get me wrong - throughout the game I felt we were very much in it - we played a lot of good stuff but just couldn’t really break them down.
“We were playing just inside their half as opposed to getting in the final thirds, that’s where we gave it away and they punished us.”
Tynecastle is set to be a sell-out for the return leg and captain and striker Shankland knows their 12th man can play a huge part in helping the team overturn the one goal deficit.
Shankland added: “The fans will be crucial, it was good to see them in Norway, they were very vocal and backed us all the way and hopefully it’s the same next week and they can back us to a victory.
“We were happy with their performance overall, the second half was much better than the first.
“The momentum swings, we got the last goal and we can look forward going to Tynecastle next week.”
Kyosuke Tagawa and Calem Nieuwenhof will be available to face Killie after missing the trip to Norway due to paperwork issues, while Kenneth Vargas is also in line to make his debut after joining on loan from Costa Rican club Herediano on Monday.
