Craig Halkett hopes Hearts Conference League lesson from Istanbul Basaksehir can be blessing in disguise
dailyrecord.co.ukCraig Halkett insists a Europa Conference League baptism of fire against Istanbul Basaksehir could still prove a blessing if they put points on the board against Riga.
The Scotland defender sat out of a 4-0 demolition by the Turks on Thursday night due to a hamstring injury but admitted it was a sobering lesson on the step up in class against continental opposition at Tynecastle.
A first group clash for the Jambos in Europe for 18 years may have been a painful watch for the 27-year-old. But he’s already targeting a return to the side for the clash in Latvia in midweek and believes the club is on a steep learning curve with Riga a destination that can get their campaign off and running.
Halkett said: “We knew from the minute the draw was made we’d be facing teams of a high level and Thursday was an example of that. “Nobody underestimated the size of the challenge as it’s been 18 years since we’ve been involved at the group stage of a European competition.
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