Blair Spittal is looking forward to returning to European competition with Heart of Midlothian after experiencing it briefly during his time at Motherwell.

The midfielder discussed the upcoming game as well as expectations, versatility and more when he spoke with the press ahead of the clash with Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup.

Read everything he said below...

You had experience in Europe with Motherwell, will you look to make up for it?

Big regrets from that Sligo game. Europe was short-lived. That was my first couple of games at Motherwell. So obviously it didn't go as well as what we'd hoped for. We had the home leg first, and we made a defensive error and they capitalised on it. And then you're always chasing the game from then on in. So we probably didn't play the whole tie as well as we could have. But that's in the past now. Next week we've got a massive opportunity that we need to be ready for.

You have come to a club that wants to go the distance in cup competitions?

That's the expectation of this club. Obviously last year, a good couple of cup runs. But that was the manager's aim for the club to progress. We need to try and make sure that we're getting far in these competitions. So Falkirk is a right hard test for us. Good team, so we're under no illusions of how hard this is going to be.

How do you find the fans here compared to Motherwell?

Coming to a massive club like this, you need to deal with those expectations. I've been that player. when you're coming to Tynecastle, when you're the away team, you do want to make it hard for Hearts. So obviously we need to be as well drilled as we can in terms of how to break opposition down when it comes to that. But like I said, it's just the expectation that we're going to have to deal with it.

Is training tasty with the competition for places?

Yeah, 100%. Like I said, the competition for places is there. So we need to make sure that we're on our game in training every day. If you are starting or you find yourself with the boys that aren't playing, you're constantly keeping everyone on their toes and making sure that you're ready for the opportunity when it does come. Because the manager said that, there are going to be changes in terms of whether that's game to game or whatever.

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Do you have sympathy for manager with the squad selection?

He'll probably say it's a good thing that he's got so many players to pick from. But it can be frustrating if you're wanting to play.  But that's part and parcel of being a footballer. You need to be ready always. 

You thrived in the No.10 role last season, but does your versatility help with game time?

It depends on what way you look at it. Some managers probably see it as a good thing in terms of you can play in certain positions. It does get to points in my career where I have felt I've had to nail down one position and been known for playing there. I said it when I came in that I do see myself as a player that plays centrally. We have got a lot of competition throughout the pre-season. We didn't have that natural No.6 in terms of the boys that were injured. A couple of us had to fill in that role. But at the same time, I've enjoyed it. I wouldn't go against myself that much.

Have you had to do any initiation?

Weirdly not. I'm kind of alright with that. I've done plenty of them throughout my career. I'm not going to put my hand up and volunteer to do it. I'll wait for the opportunity. Hopefully, that's passed, to be honest.

You won the team-mates' competition in Tenerife, didn't you?

Aye, me and Frankie won it. A good reward at the end of it. I think we got a bottle of aftershave. I don't know whether to take that as a compliment, or whether the managers tried to tell us that we stink!"