Peter Haring insists 'smaller clubs' than Hearts reach Europa League group stage as he fires down big guns poser

Peter Haring doesn’t just hope to make the Europa League group stages – he’s convinced Hearts belong there.The big Austrian is determined to lead the Jambos to the promised land on Thursday night as they bid to overturn Zurich’s 2-1 play-off first leg deficit at Tynecastle. And once they get there, the fans favourite aims to stay.

Scottish clubs outside the Old Firm have a brutal record in the Europa League, with none of our sides making the group stages since the tournament was revamped from the old UEFA Cup 12 years ago. Meanwhile we’ve had to watch Irish outfits like Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk mix it with the big boys, along with clubs from so-called minnow nations like Albania, Macedonia and Belarus. Haring knows it’s about time for a club from beyond Glasgow in this country to join the party and he is adamant it should be Hearts.

Aberdeen were the last one to get to a group stage, when they competed in the round robin stage of the UEFA Cup back in 2008. But the midfielder knows the Gorgie men have a huge opportunity to make it this time around – and he’s out to make his mark.

Haring said: “Should Hearts be in the Europa League? Definitely. There has been clubs playing in that competition that are not the size of Hearts. I said it before when I signed for Hearts that playing in the Europa League was a big big target.

“That’s where the club want to be and that’s the next step for us as a team. To be there regularly.”

Hearts have European football guaranteed until Christmas regardless of what happens in Edinburgh on Thursday. The Europa Conference League is a handy safety net for the Jambos that will give punters the chance to dig out the passports and the clubs to pocket a right few quid.

But Haring isn’t