Zander Clark warns Hearts to avoid Euro tourist trap as keeper dismisses Rosenborg's recent struggles

Zander Clark admits to being a connoisseur of European football and he’s determined to ensure Hearts don’t become accidental tourists against Rosenborg.

The keeper believes lessons learned from other Europa Conference League excursions can ensure tomorrow’s tie in the Lerkendal Stadion becomes the launchpad for a sustained run. It’s a third qualifying round first leg in Norway that will offer an acid test of the Tynecastle side’s continental ambitions of claiming a group stage spot and emulating such a success from the last campaign.

Clark is well aware of failings in glamour ties against Fiorentina and Istanbul Basaksehir. And he’s aiming to have his passport stamped regularly in the months ahead by helping the Jambos show they can stand up and be counted at this level. He said: “Although the result wasn’t great, the Fiorentina trip last season was good. I loved the old-school Italian stadium, it was a great experience to go there. These competitions give you the opportunity to travel and see these places and teams.

“It’s great to be a part of. There are so many things you pick up and learn.

“You see how other teams perform and how you match up against them. I’m that bit older as well now and you look at different tactical styles.

“It’s good in that respect. These are top teams we’re coming up against.

“Just to see how they go about their business around the pitch is invaluable. Hopefully we can give ourselves an opportunity to experience more of that again.”

A suggestion Rosenborg’s domestic struggles this season – they sit eighth – signals a team there for the taking is met with a degree of scorn by Clark. Again, it’s a case of pointing to the past as the 31-year-old cautioned it sounds uncannily like the build-up