How much Hearts can make from Europe as Robbie Neilson cashes first cheque towards title dream

Having finished third, made the Scottish Cup Final and with Rangers their other opponent, Hearts are back in a European group stage for the first time since 2004.

The Jambos go in at the play-off round of the Europa League, where they'll play a loser from the Champions League third round of qualifying.

Hearts fans, you probably know the script from memory by now – lose that and it's a parachute job down into the Europa Conference League and six mouthwatering games leading all the way into the winter World Cup break.

Passports are getting looked out and beach balls are getting bounced around the stands.

But the added bonus is the cold, hard cash on offer no matter in which competition the Jambos end up that could help them tighten their grip on their European spot, building towards qualifying again next season and pulling away from chasing clubs such as Hibs and Aberdeen.

Manager Robbie Neilson had maintained for some time how big Saturday's semi-final against Hibs was, even keeping celebrations to a minimum the previous week after winning the final league derby.

And after seeing off the Hibees 2-1 to book their return to Hampden and the golden group stage ticket, he said: "It will make a difference. We're guaranteed money. But we've got to be careful how we spend that money.

"We don't want to chuck it all in. We want to try to build the club gradually over the next three or four years.

"What this will do is allow us to position ourselves to try and get in next year again.

"That's what we need to do. Gradually build the club over three, four, five years to get consistent European football and then try to challenge for the title."

Record Sport takes a look at the money on offer.

Okay, worst case scenario. Hearts