Neil Critchley anticipates 'real test' as Hearts prepare for Omonia Nicosia

New Hearts manager Neil Critchley is eagerly anticipating taking charge of the side against Omonia Nicosia and says European games were part of what drew him to the club.

Critchley was named as Steven Naismith’s successor at Tynecastle last week and enjoyed a perfect start to life at the club with a 4-0 win over St Mirren.

He now turns his attention to the UEFA Conference League, where Hearts aim to build on an opening day win over Dinamo Minsk.

Critchley hasn’t managed a senior side in European competition but the former QPR and Blackpool boss was coach of the Liverpool academy side that played in the UEFA Youth League. He said that gives him some idea of what’s different about continental competition.

“I’ve had experience of that before but that was at youth level,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate to travel all over the world playing in competitions.

“The UEFA Youth League was obviously under-19 level but still it’s all relative.

“I still have experience of playing against teams from all over the world and how they play the game differently, how rules are interpreted differently, even just the way people behave and react to certain things. So it’s not new to me.

“But managing against a team like Omonoia is one of the definite reasons why I came to this football club, without a shadow of a doubt.”

The Hearts boss wouldn’t be drawn on how many points he thinks will be needed to progress in the new competition format but hopes to add to the three the club already have with a positive result on Thursday. However, he said that Omonia, who count former Rangers defender Filip Helander in their ranks, would not be easy opposition.

“This is a real test,” he said. “They lost on Saturday, they are a strong team, and we know the task we have in front of us, but we are off the back of a good win, a good win away in Europe as well, and we are at home.

“I know, from watching them that they have got some good players. I know they have some really exciting, attacking players, and, if you look at the background of some of the players, and what they have achieved, then we give full respect to who they are.

“We concentrate on us, how do we improve, how do we get better, how do we respect the opponent, and, on Thursday, it will be down to us and how we play.”

While working on improving a team that has had a difficult start to the season, preparing for a European game and looking ahead to this weekend’s derby against Hibs, Critchley is also taking a crash course in all things Hearts. He revealed that kit man Gordon ‘Gogsy’ Paterson has been sharing his deep knowledge.

“He tells me everything,” the manager said. “He’s the man I turn to.

“He’s the encyclopaedic knowledge of Hearts. He gives me a guided tour of the football club and the history of the football club. Brilliant company.

“And when you pull up at the ground, you do have those moments when you think, ‘Wow, this ain’t bad’. So I’m looking forward to this week.”