Hearts v Royal Antwerp: Antwerp visit excites Eggert Jonsson

WITH yesterday's Europa League third qualifying round draw offering Eggert Jonsson the possibility of a rapid return to Scandinavia, the Hearts defender knows time is of the essence as the Tynecastle club seek to challenge at home and abroad in the season ahead.

Icelandic international Jonsson had a shorter summer break than the rest of his club-mates as he represented his country in the European under-21 Championship Finals in Denmark last month.

The 22-year-old could be heading north again for the first leg of Hearts' opening Europa League tie on 28 July after the draw paired Jim Jefferies' men with either Tromso of Norway or Hungarian side Paksi.

Tromso, European football's most northerly senior club who lost 1-0 on aggregate to St Mirren in the first round of the old Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, are favourites to progress after drawing the first leg of their second qualifying round tie 1-1 away to unheralded Paksi.

In the middle of their domestic campaign, currently sitting second in the Norwegian Premier League, Tromso would represent a stern test for Hearts who will have played just one competitive fixture, next Saturday's SPL opener away to Rangers, before the first leg.

Hearts will finalise their preparations for the serious business with two friendly matches this weekend, away to Livingston this afternoon and then tomorrow's visit of Belgian side Royal Antwerp to Tynecastle.

"I missed the first couple of weeks of pre-season, after being at the Euro under-21 finals, but the boys are looking good," said Jonsson. "The team are gelling a bit. I managed to get my first game against Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night and although it was a disappointing result to lose 2-1, what we got out of it was positive.

"We are just looking forward to the last couple of pre-season games now, especially the game on Sunday against Antwerp. It's the first game at home and the last one before the start of the SPL season, so the team really needs to start to gel now.

"It's not a problem for me, having had less time off because of the championships with Iceland. I still had a good two and a half weeks off. I went away for ten days, relaxed at home in Iceland. It was good to get a bit of a break. It's probably a bit harder now, with the season starting so early this year. I've only really had two weeks to get myself ready for it. But then again, I was only off for two and a half weeks so I didn't really lose much fitness. So I will be ready when it starts."

Jonsson has been encouraged by Hearts' summer recruitment drive which has seen John Sutton, Jamie Hamill, Mehdi Taouil and Danny Grainger join the club. He believes it will leave the Gorgie men better placed for a sustained challenge to the Old Firm after last season's tilt at the Glasgow giants faded away.

"It's definitely pleasing to see the quality of players added to the squad," said Jonsson. "There is already a strong base here and we know what the players can do. The new guys bring more quality and greater competition for places, which is always positive.

"We have always had good players in my time here, but have not always performed as a team. But the manager has got the right combination now. Hopefully we can work together, everyone can play to their best and the team can do well.

"We always go into a season in the business of trying to win something. Last year we finished third in the SPL but the two domestic cup competitions were disappointing. We are always looking to win a trophy and hopefully we can do it this season.

"Last year, we were in the title race at the turn of the year but after that we dropped off a bit. We lost a bit of confidence and were not playing as well. Up until then, we showed we can be up there with Rangers and Celtic. We need to learn from last season's experience and get a bit more consistency. We need to make sure we don't finish the season halfway through like we did last time.

"The players who have come in will strengthen us and the ones who were here last season will have learned from the disappointment of the second half of the campaign when we were not really getting the results we needed. The new players are all good enough to go straight into the team. They are all proven SPL players who are good enough to play for this club.

"Hopefully I'll have a settled position myself somewhere in the team. I want to be in the team every week, so I just need to work hard in training. If I get a chance to play against Antwerp I'll be happy, whatever position I'm in."