Confirmed Hearts XI vs Cercle Brugge as Neil Critchley makes huge Kenneth Vargas call
Hearts head coach Neil Critchley has named his line-up for their Europa Conference League tie with Cercle Brugge.
With two wins and a solitary loss in the continental competition thus far, the Jambos are currently sitting in 12th, just three points off a glut of sides who lead the competition's league phase on nine points. If the name Cercle Brugge sounds familiar, that's because they played Killie in the Europa League second qualifying round a few months ago, ultimately knocking them out with a score of 2-1 on aggregate.
There are key goals to make for the boss, with Lawrence Shankland not firing this season. Taking him out of the starting line-up would be a huge call to make though. Kenneth Vargas has been called out recently by many for an interview during the international break, but may be given a shot at redemption in Belgium. Below is Critchley's full lineup as the Jam Tarts look for another European win.
Hearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Devlin, Boateng, Dhanda, Forrest, Vargas, Shankland.
Substitutions: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Oyegoke, Baningime, Grant, McKay, Spittal, Wilson, Tait, Boyce.
Cercle Brugge: Delanghe, Diakite, Ravych, Miangue, Efekele, De Wilde, Francis, Magnee, Somers, Brunner, Augusto.
Substitutes: Langenbick, De Bel, Utkus, Agyekum, Minda, Olaigbe, Van der Bruggen, Lietaert.