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MJ Kamson-Kamara's Hearts wait as technical coaching helps him improve Englishman steps up to European competition Clubs listed on the CV of Michael-John Valentino Kamson-Kamara are Lincoln City, Barwell FC [loan], Peterborough Sports [loan] and Glentoran [loan]. Seven weeks since joining Heart of Midlothian, he found himself facing the Portuguese superstars of Benfica. It was a considerable wait, and a fair jump in levels for the young Englishman. Kamson-Kamara’s competitive Hearts debut was as an 84th-minute substitute for Oisin McEntee during Thursday’s Europa League qualifying tie at Tynecastle Park. The 1-1 draw restored some credibility and pride for the Edinburgh club despite their elimination on a 7-2 aggregate scoreline. Kamson-Kamara was simply content to get going in maroon after arriving in June from Lincoln. “It felt good to come on the pitch and represent the club. That's what you want to do, play games,” he said. “It was just great to come on against a good opposition like Benfica. I was just warming up and you just have to be ready. Then I think Oisin went down with a hamstring or something and I just got told to get ready and come on.” Stepping up from last season’s Northern Irish Premiership, where he played with Glentoran, to the Europa League qualifying rounds is a test. “That’s football. You want to keep on progressing and progressing in your career,” said the 20-year-old defender. “Yes, of course, it's a difference from Lincoln to playing against people that are worth a lot of money, played in the biggest stages of football, but that's what you want as a footballer. You want to keep on progressing and play against the best, so it was a good moment. “Benfica moved the ball really quickly. They're sharp. They're quick with their decision-making and they're just very strong and powerful. They're a great side. You see [Clement] Langlet, Jhon Duran, all of these players on TV. Duran played in the Premier League. You could name all of them. It's just crazy playing against people that scored in the World Cup so I’ll cherish it. “I’ve always wanted to play European football. I think any kid, if you ask them, they would want to play European football. That's just not my only goal - just to make my debut in a European competition. I want to start games, play games and keep on progressing and progressing.” Further opportunity arrives on Sunday in the Premier Sports Cup against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Then it’s another reputable European name next week when Hearts play Rapid Vienna in the Conference League play-off. The first leg is at Tynecastle, the return in Austria six days later. “ We want to win every game. Next week we need to go into it and really get a good result to take to Vienna,” said Kamson-Kamara. “We know our qualities. I think we have to be a bit patient with the results because we've been playing well, but it hasn't been going our way. Now I think it's starting to click. We can get a result next week and 100 per cent we can win.” Competition in central defence meant the Englishman has had to wait for an opportunity under Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken. McEntee, Stuart Findlay and Jamie McCart are all ahead of him in the queue for places, while the experienced Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley are out injured. “I knew when I signed it's not going to be easy to come into the side. It's been frustrating,” said the player. “Of course everyone wants to play football, but I just need to bide my time, train well and just wait for my opportunity and take it. “The manager is speaking to all of us every day. He's been good with communicating what he wants from the defenders. He likes to always input his style of play, get us better and keep making us want us to play the type of way that he wants to play. He's been great and he feels top-level. Very intelligent. He focuses on the little details from the defence, goalkeeper all the way up to the striker. He's very thorough with what he wants and he's very clear. It's a pleasure to be under a gaffer like Wouter. “He has helped me in many ways, but just the little technical details. When I’m receiving the ball, the passes I can find, not trying to do too much with the ball as a centre-back. Just keeping it simple and the patterns of play he wants from us. He's been very thorough and I feel like from day one, from when I met him until now, I've learned a lot of things and ultimately got better.”