Wouter Vrancken’s side come of age as Hearts bid goodnight Rapid Vienna

Progress in Europe brings obvious financial rewards and there may be sales as well as purchases at Hearts in the closing days of the transfer window.

Hearts have already brought in 12 new players this summer while even more than that have moved on.

Now with at least six more European fixtures to play this season, former Hearts player Ryan Stevenson believes the club will have to recruit.

“I think they’ll definitely need to bring in another two or three anyway when you look at the League Cup, the six games in Europe, the league, which is so important,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.

Another former Tynecastle favourite, Allan Preston, believes Hearts will be prepared for such a task.

“They’ve got people ready to come if they’re needed,” he said. “They are ready. They don’t wait until things happen. They already do things.

“If they need to, they’ll be pushing the button before the transfer window closes. They will get better, they’ll produce better.”

One position Hearts may have to look at as a priority is midfield after Tom Renaud’s first-half injury.

“That’s the biggest disappointment of the evening,” lamented Vrancken.

“It’s not looking good but I hope for him that it’s OK. We have to look there because he was also really good in the last game.

“We’re talking every day about those things and we’ll see in the next weeks.”