POSPISIL CAUTIOUS OF EURO CHANCE

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts striker Michal Pospisil believes the Jambos have an even money chance of claiming a lucrative Champions League group spot at the expense of AEK Athens.

The Tynecastle side hold a three-goal lead over Siroki Brijeg after the first leg of their second qualifying round tie ahead of the trip to Bosnia where they are strong favourites to progress to a final qualifier against the Greek club.

Hearts limbered up for the return leg at Siroki with a 2-1 win at Dunfermline in the Bank of Scotland Premier League opener on Saturday.

But prolific midfielder Rudi Skacel has joined Southampton, while Scotland defender Andy Webster has invoked a little-known FIFA clause to leave the club.

Midfielder Paul Hartley is still recovering from a groin strain, but Pospisil, 27, is convinced reaching the group stages of Europe's premier club competition is attainable.

He said: "We have a big squad and we will find out if there is enough quality and strength in the next game against Siroki Brijeg and then AEK Athens.

"I think it will be a '50-50' game if we play AEK Athens.

"They are a very good side, but they are not as experienced as us, so we have a chance and I hope we can do it."

Pospisil scored the winning goal at East End Park after ex-Jambo Stephen Simmons had cancelled out Roman Bednar's 15th-minute opener.

The Pars finished the game with 10 men after substitute Andy Tod picked up two yellow cards.

But the Czech Republic striker, who only played because Edgaras Jankauskas was suspended, is hoping to become a regular this season.

Pospisil said: "Last season, I played in games and scored and expected to play in the next game, but didn't.

"That was frustrating but manager picks the team, so they do what they think is for the best.

"I am confident of starting this season in the first 11 and I will try and do my best, but we will see what happens."

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas was glad to reveal Hartley is on the mend.

The Scotland international had been unable to train fully due to a troublesome groin problem but his return is now imminent.

Ivanauskas said: "Paul will start back training next week.

"The players and me are waiting for Paul because he is a big player for us."

Ex-Tynecastle midfielder Simmons believes his old club can build on their second-place finish last season and mount another serious challenge to the Old Firm duopoly in Scotland.

He said: "You can see they are missing Hartley, Webster and Skacel.

"They are three valuable players they didn't have on Saturday and I think it showed.

"But I still think they have a good chance in the SPL."

But the 24-year-old is also convinced Dunfermline will confound the critics who have tipped the Pars for another relegation battle this season.

Simmons said: "People can feel free to tip us to go down, we aren't bothered.

"We had it last year and it doesn't bother us in the slightest.

"We don't want to start the season the way we finished it last year, making chances but coming away with nothing. But we can take a lot of positives from the opening game against Hearts.

"Hearts are in Europe, won the Scottish Cup and were second in the league, so, if we keep playing the way we did in the second half, then we will be happy."

Taken from sportinglife.com