Ryan McGowan believes a positive result for Hearts against Thun would change "a lot" for his former team.

Wouter Vrancken's side have picked up one point from their opening two Conference League fixtures and have travelled to Switzerland without a clutch of injured players.

"European football, I if everyone was fit and had a full squad, I think there'd be a good chance of them progressing," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I just feel like the run they've been on in terms of picking up those injuries has made it difficult.

"In saying that, a result tonight changes things a lot. It allows them a real opportunity to progress."

Thun have lost their opening two fixtures in the Conference League.

And McGowan added: "A point isn't the the absolute worst in terms of trying to hang in there to get something.

"But I think if Hearts have any aspirations to try and progress, which I think they did before all these injuries, they really need to be going there and winning and putting a real sort of marker down.

"Do I see them doing that? It's a really, really difficult task. Stranger things have happened."