Neil Critchley revealed he has spoken to Kenneth Vargas over his comments made during the international break as the Heart of Midlothian coach looked ahead to the Conference League against Cercle Brugge with excitement.

The Costa Rican suggested he could leave in January as he spoke of a desire to play at a higher level and questioned the quality of Scottish football.

Vargas was delayed coming back from playing with Costa Rica meaning Critchley wasn't able to speak to him until Sunday.

"We had a good conversation," he said. "I think Kenneth's learned from the experience. He knows my feelings as well. That's a private conversation between me and Kenneth. Kenneth's a good guy.

"He's a good person. Since I've been at the football club, he trains every single day and he trains really well. He's committed to this football club and he wants to get better as a football player. That's my job to try and help him.

"I know he's apologised to the team-mates. We had a good conversation and I said to him how I felt and made a couple of things clear to him.

"He explained what he was attempting to say and he's learned from the experience. Hopefully, we can not have an issue like that again in the future."

Vargas could return to the start line-up on Thursday night while Critchley's attacking options have swelled with the return of Yutaro Oda to the line-up.

The Japanese winger has not been available under the Hearts head coach due to a hamstring issue.

Critchley believes Oda could play a positive part in his squad.

"The games that I watched prior to me joining the club, I was impressed by him," he said. "I thought he had something different.

"I think it always takes a period of time for people when they're coming from different parts of the world to adapt. He's had a bit of inconsistency in terms of playing and injury. Hopefully, he can stay injury free and we can start to see some of the qualities that he's got.

"When I watched him, you can see some potential there. He's got a lot to improve and a lot to do. I'm excited by what he could possibly become in the future."

Hearts will face a Cercle Brugge side without their best player in Kevin Denkey. Critchley has watched the team himself and knows the "type of team" they will face.

“We know the style of play," he said. "We know the strengths and weaknesses if you like. We try to negate their strengths and try to exploit the things that are going to give us an advantage in the game. There are quite clear traits that are consistent when you watch this team play.

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"If you look at the team recently, the ones that could possibly replace him [Denkey] have been in the team and have been playing. There's a consistency in formation, a consistency in how they play the game.

“It's difficult, they make it difficult for you. Any game away from home in Europe is a difficult contest. We know we're going to have to be at our best, we're going to have to be here physically, and mentally. But if we are, then we'll have an opportunity of picking up three points.”

Hearts will be backed by a big away following with more than 3,100 supporters expected at the Jan Breydel Stadium. They will make up a large percentage of the expected crowd of around 8,000.

When the team flew out from Edinburgh they saw plenty of supporters making their way and are keen to deliver.

“It gives you a great feeling when you know you've got that support and backing," Critchley said. “I hope they have a great night tonight and a good day in the city and then hopefully we can go out and give them a performance that is a really good representation of Hearts. 

“There were a few people at the airport. The Wetherspoons were doing a great bit of business! Sometimes you look over and we say it as a staff, it must be brilliant to follow your club in Europe and go away with your family and friends and enjoy yourself. 

“We have to concentrate on the football but sometimes we think you won't mind being in that yourself.”

The management team and playing squad are well aware of the situation they are in. A win guarantees progression to the knockout stage of the Conference League and would give Hearts a great chance to earn a top-eight spot which would ensure the play-off round is bypassed, going straight into the last-16.

“I think there's a quiet excitement," Critchley said of the prospect. "I don't mention leagues and I don't mention points. We just concentrate on the process and then hopefully everything else takes care of itself. We're all human, we know what could be lying further ahead down the line. 

“We don't speak about that, I don't speak about that, because our focus is just on how to prepare for this game and how do we take to the pitch tomorrow night with a plan and implement that as best as we can to give ourselves the best chance of picking up the points that we need.

“It's about the players, it's about the club. It would be a big thing, it would be massive. It's exciting coming here, travelling here, seeing the stadium. It's different, it has a different feel to it.

“Life's for living and having different experiences and this gives all of us here, everyone, a great opportunity for us to progress further if we can and have more days and nights like this in the future.”