Hearts vs. Heidenheim preview: Team news and predicted lineups

Here is our preview of Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League clash between Hearts and Heidenheim, including our predicted lineups.

After an impressive start to the season, Heidenheim have struggled of late, winning just one of their last six games in all competitions.

A 2-1 DFB-Pokal defeat at the hands of 2. Bundesliga side Hertha BSC was followed by another disappointing result, as Frank Schmidt’s men were beaten 1-0 by newly-promoted Holstein Kiel at the weekend.

In the UEFA Conference League alone, however, Heidenheim have no cause for concern, having won their first two games.

The same can be said of Thursday’s opponents, Hearts. The Scottish side have six points in the Conference League, but they’re struggling domestically, where they sit 11th out of 12 despite a 2-1 win over St Johnstone at the weekend.

On the injury front, Hearts will be without Calem Nieuwenhof, Yutaro Oda and Gerald Taylor.

Heidenheim will hope to have Lennard Maloney and Norman Theukauf back from injury after the duo missed out against Kiel.

Schmidt has rotated his squad extensively in Europe and is expected to do so again on Thursday, with Marnon Busch, Luca Kerber and Mikkel Kaufmann among those in contention to move into the starting eleven.

Click here to see our predicted Hearts vs. Heidenheim lineups.