Neilson frustrated as season ends ‘too soon’ for Hearts duo

HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson admits the season has ended too soon for both Gary Mackay-Steven and John Souttar.

Winger Mackay-Steven was just beginning to find his feet following his January switch from New York City, having hit four goals in their last two Championship games.

Scotland defender Souttar was also getting into his stride in making four successive starts at the tail end of the campaign after being sidelined for 14 months with a double ruptured Achilles.

While Souttar will do extra work over the close-season to make sure he is in peak condition for the team’s return to the Premiership, Neilson admits the pair were in a rich vein of form.

Neilson, whose team wrapped up the campaign with a 4-0 win at Raith Rovers last Friday, said: “Gary is the type of player that likes to get into one-v-ones, when you go to Cappielow and you go to Gayfield and these types of places, the surface is poor.

“Teams sit in and make it difficult and it’s very difficult for Gary but you saw on Friday that when he’s on it he’s a top player.

“I’ve been delighted with John Souttar as well, the season is ending too soon for him and Gary.

“The plan will be to keep John training over the close-season just to keep him ticking over so he’s ready for pre-season.

“You see the difference in the team when John comes in, he’s brilliant.”

Neilson, meanwhile, admits supporters can expect to see changes to the team that started at Stark’s Park when they begin their assault on the topflight.

He added: “There will be a few changes to that team that started on Friday, there will be a few boys who are not here next season and there will be a few more to come in as well.

“I spoke at the start of the season about trying to get pace in the team but unfortunately the ones that came in, either through injury or lack of form, didn’t quite hit the ground running. So we had to change shape but you have to do something as coaches and managers when your plan isn’t working so we’ll think about that over the summer.”