Cammy Devlin insists Hearts hitting Euro jackpot in third again would outstrip Messi moment in season highlight reel

Cammy Devlin has been there and got the t-shirt this season.

The Australia ace enjoyed a glamorous Euro group stage campaign with Hearts including a trip to face Conference League finalists Fiorentina - then got his hands on Lionel Messi’s strip at the World Cup. But Devlin insists grabbing third place in the Premiership again would top it all. Beating Aberdeen as the battle for that £5m Euro slot cranked up a gear on Saturday was a good start but the Socceroo knows a result at Ibrox this evening could well be necessary if they’re to keep the dream alive.

Take three massive points in Govan then it will go down to the final day Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle on Saturday to determine if they can reclaim the best of the rest tag. Asked how all that would compare to his starstruck moment with Messi, Devlin said: “That was pretty special, to be fair! But a third-place finish man.. especially with the way we will have done it if we get it. It would be unreal. It’s important, it’s massive for the club in every way. It’s massive for the fans and to be able to give the fans a few more European trips.

“I just know how special that was for them. And for us as players it was just a good experience and such a good learning experience. It would be super special for everyone to do that two years on the bounce.

“Last year, it was all but done when we got into the split. But now we’ve got to chase. Every game you play for Hearts, I’ve found, is a massive game, a must-win game.

“But that’s what you want to do as a professional footballer. Growing up, you don’t want to play games that don’t have something riding on them.

“So, the position we’re in now, there’s such importance on each game and you’ve got to take pride in that. It’s our job