LENNON’S ON PUKKI ALERT

NEIL LENNON is anticipating a likely reunion with former Celtic striker Teemu Pukki after Hibernian were handed potentially the toughest task of the three Scottish sides in the Europa League draw.

The Scottish Cup holders enter at the second qualifying round and will face either Danish outfit Brondby — Pukki’s current employers — or Valur Reykjavik. The first leg is currently scheduled to be at Easter Road on July 14.

Capital rivals Hearts must come through a first qualifying round tie against FC Infonet of Estonia — with the first leg now at Tynecastle on June 30 — to set up a meeting against either Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia or Maltese side Birkirkara.

Aberdeen will also begin their competitive season this month against Fola Esch of Luxembourg. Victory would see them face either Latvian outfit Ventspils or Vikingur from the Faroe Islands.

While Robbie Neilson and Derek McInnes will be relatively content with their draws, Lennon admits that a possible meeting with Brondby would provide a stern test for his first competitive match in charge of the Championship promotion favourites.

He signed Pukki for Celtic in August 2013, but the Finnish striker managed just seven goals that season before Ronny Deila loaned him out to Brondby. Pukki rediscovered his scoring touch in Denmark and signed a three-year deal in 2015.

‘He’s a quality player, a Finnish international,’ said Lennon. ‘It was difficult for him to settle in Glasgow but he’s a talented boy.

‘I would expect Brondby to negotiate the tie, but you just never know. I would much prefer to be at home in the second leg, but we will just have to prepare as best we can.

‘Obviously, the priority is getting through the Championship but it is a massive bonus to have European football, so we are determined to make the most of the games.’

Lennon also hopes to have a positive answer from Jason Cummings on his future ahead of the tie. He met the 20-year-old striker, who has a year left on his current contract, in Paris over the weekend.

Turkish club Trabzonspor and a number of English Championship sides are chasing Cummings, but Lennon, who has been working as a pundit at Euro 2016, believes the youngster would be better-served by extending his stay at Easter Road.

‘I had a chat with him and that was positive,’ Lennon told BBC Scotland. ‘Now we give the kid some time to go away and think about what he wants to do next.

‘I think he would benefit from another year or two with us.’

Across Edinburgh, Hearts boss Neilson admitted being paired with FC Infonet represented a ‘good draw’. However, after initially welcoming a schedule that had his team at home for the second leg, he was denied that opportunity when UEFA ordered a change.

The governing body were forced to take action after the draw threw up the prospect of three games taking place in Tallinn on June 30, with Levadia Tallinn and JK Nomme Kalju also due to be playing in the Estonian capital. Hearts advised their supporters not to make any travel plans until the situation was resolved, with the switch confirmed late yesterday afternoon.

‘UEFA have just advised the club that its Europa League first round, first leg fixture against FC Infonet has been switched and will now be played at Tynecastle on June 30,’ said a club statement. ‘The return fixture in Tallinn will now be played on July 7.

‘The decision to switch the fixture rests solely with UEFA and Familiar face: Lennon signed Pukki at Celtic for a fee of almost £3million, but the Finnish striker failed to make his mark at Parkhead and was farmed out to Danish side Brondby is completely out of the club’s hands.’

Infonet are currently a point behind leaders Levadia after 17 games of the Estonian top division. That provides an advantage in terms of match sharpness, but Neilson remains positive about Hearts’ chances.

‘The boys are ready, it will be a difficult test, but one that we’re very much looking forward to,’ said Neilson.

‘We are getting to work on preparation straight away. Our video analyst is already working on getting some footage in, so we will be able to study them.’

The away leg will be moved from Infonet’s regular domestic stadium to the 10,000-capacity A. Le Coq Arena, which is also Estonia’s national stadium and the home of Celtic’s potential Champions League opponents Flora Tallinn. Infonet say Hearts will receive a 1,000-capacity section of the ground.

‘I think Hearts are one of the strongest clubs in Scotland,’ said their coach, Aleksandr Pushtov. ‘We will have to get to know their team even better and try to find their weaknesses.’

Meanwhile, Dons boss McInnes admitted that he was happy to have avoided an arduous journey after Aberdeen were forced to head out to Macedonia, Croatia and Kazakhstan in last season’s competition.

This time round his team will be at home to Fola Esch on June 30, before the return leg in Luxembourg — due to be played at the national stadium — seven days later.

McInnes is likely to be without Niall McGinn, who is on Euro 2016 duty with Northern Ireland, while striker Miles Storey won’t formally complete his switch from Swindon Town until July 1.

‘We still have the potential to maybe sign one more before the game,’ said McInnes. ‘If not, I’m confident we can get the job done with the squad we have.’

“It’s a massive bonus for us to be in Europe”