Birkirkara FC vs Hearts - Robbie Neilson: Playing in the Maltese heat is a big change for Hearts

Posted Thursday, July 14, 2016 by PA

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson admits his team will have to be careful to suit their tactics for the Maltese heat.

Hearts will take on Birkirkara in the Europa League second qualifying round on Thursday night with temperatures predicted to be close to 30C.

Neilson said: "It's really difficult to prepare for it in Scotland when it's raining, it's 15 degrees and the sun has disappeared. We can just talk about it and talk about the tactics that we're going to try to implement.

"We are training at the same time as the game the night before to try to get used to it, but it's a big change for us, even having a water break halfway through the first and second half will be difficult for us.

"When you watch games in countries that are extremely hot, it's a low tempo and you don't over-commit. It's just a different style of football and it's one we need to get used to."

Hearts' opponents took West Ham to penalties at the same stage last season before bowing out and have invested heavily in players from eastern Europe.

But Neilson hopes Hearts continue the progress they made during their 6-3 aggregate win over Estonians Infonet in the opening round.

"We will not underestimate them at all," he said. "We know it's going to be a tough one, even the whole environment.

"The first Infonet game, we had two weeks' preparation and you could see the rustiness. The performance the following week in Estonia was far better.

"I think we tired a wee bit after 60 minutes but we are hoping that a week's training and another 90 minutes under our belt, we will be able to compete more and be another step forward."