Helander suffers defeat in Omonia start before Hearts game

Former Rangers centre-half Filip Helander returned to the Omonia Nicosia starting line-up but could not prevent his new side suffering a second straight defeat before visiting Hearts in the Conference League on Thursday.

Head coach Valdas Dambrauskas was without Cyprus forward Andronikos Kakoullis against Enosis and made three other changes from the side that lost 2-0 away to Aris Limassol.

But Guinea striker Thierno Barry's 29th-minute goal was enough to lift the visitors into 11th place and leave Omonia sixth in the Cypriot top flight, seven points behind leaders Pafos.

The 31-year-old Helander has made six appearances, four of them starts, for Omonia since joining this summer from Odense, the Sweden international having spent a season in Denmark's top flight after leaving Ibrox.