Hibs SHOULD reach Europa Conference League group stage with no excuse if they repeat my early exit - Tam McManus

Welcome to the tongue-twisting time of year when Scottish clubs discover which European backwaters they’ve been paired with.

It will be either Faroese side Víkingur Gota or Andorrans Inter Club d’Escaldes for Hibs but there can also be no excuses. Let’s be honest, these are two teams hardly anyone has heard of and they must be dispatched accordingly by Lee Johnson’s side. Nothing is a given in this game – as I know better than most – but I’ll get to my Intertoto Cup humiliation shortly.

This Europa Conference League second qualifying round tie should be a canter for Johnson and his players, regardless of where they have to fly to. It’s only a five years since Hibs beat Faroese outfit NSI Runavik 12-5 on aggregate, which included a 6-4 second-leg win in the fog during the away trip. Two seasons ago they beat Santa Coloma of Andorra comfortably when clubs were operating through the Covid campaign, so they’ll have an idea of the level they’re about to face.

Chief executive Ben Kensell has already said these are two small clubs who play at small stadiums. So they should be cannon fodder, no matter the playing conditions during the away leg scheduled for August 3.

The Hibs supporters will be hoping it’s a trip to Andorra as the flights, accommodation and beer will be far cheaper than the Faroe Islands. It will also be far warmer and a decent day out. The bigger tests lie ahead, however. Kensell has stated his wish for the club to enjoy an extended run and I understand the difficulty in navigating three qualifiers to reach the group stage... but that needs to be the target.

Hibs should be reaching the groups and when I look at some of the clubs who were in the Conference League last season, it only reinforces that opinion.