Thomas Delaney fires Hearts a Conference League playoff spot warning as Copenhagen plan a show for the masses

Copenhagen ace Thomas Delaney has warned Hearts that The Lions have found their roar ahead of Thursday’s crucial Conference League clash in Denmark.

Jacob Neestrup’s side made it 12 games unbeaten and four wins in a row with a 3-1 Danish Cup victory over second tier Kolding at the weekend. Questions had been asked of Copenhagen’s performances earlier in the season. But having shot to the top of the Danish Superlig and with 30,000 expected inside the Parken Stadium on Thursday night, former Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Delaney insists Neestrup’s men are ready to deliver for their fans.

Hearts - on six points - are one point better off heading into the matchday five encounter and both sides know a victory should secure a top 24 spot and at least a play-off berth. Delaney said: “We are on a four-game winning streak and our goal hasn't changed since the start of the season.

“We are number one in the Super League, and we are well on our way to the semi-finals of the cup, and then we can probably also decide for ourselves whether we will play in Europe after the New Year. We would have liked to play for a place in the top eight in the league phase, but right now it's just about the top 24, so we'll move on.

“But most of the final rounds I have qualified for have also been with heaves and swings until the end. I admit that we've had some slip-ups in our home games that shouldn't happen, but as I said, I think right now we're in a good place and we can still make it a good league phase.”

Delaney was rested for the weekend cup win over Kolding but is expected to return against Neil Critchley's side having hit his first goal of the season against Nordsjaelland a week earlier. And the 81-times capped Denmark