Hearts boss backing Souttar to help solve Scotland’s problems

DEFENDER: Cathro believes young stopper has made huge progress since switching to Tynecastle

Ian Cathro reckons John Souttar is destined to be a Scotland star after insisting the Hearts defender has the grit to bounce back from his injury hell and reach the top.

The lack of quality centre-halves available to Scotland boss Gordon Strachan at international level has again been thrown into sharp relief ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia.

Souttar, who boasts six caps at under21 level, was being discussed as a potential answer to those woes following a bright start to the season with the Jambos.

However, the 20-year-old’s progress was cruelly curtailed when he sustained a ruptured achilles during a 4-0 defeat against Celtic in January, ruling the promising stopper out for the remainder of the campaign.

Nevertheless, Cathro believes the former Dundee United defender’s time will come. He said: “If we are talking about John being a talented player and one who could be a centre back for Scotland, then obviously that depends on who is leading the team, what the football is like and what he wants from his centre back.

“But I would expect that (Scotland recognition) to happen in his life. I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be the case.”

Cathro worked with Souttar as a fresh-faced 10-year-old when the youngster joined his Dundee-based private coaching programme. He watched him blossom into a first-team player with United.

However, he believes the progress in the player – personally and professionally – since making the switch to Hearts in January 2016 has been startling.

Cathro continued: “The period of time he had at Dundee United started very well and a lot of good, positive things happened for him there.

“By the end of it, it was becoming more difficult for everyone.

“The opportunity and support he got coming to Hearts, I know from speaking to him that it gave him a massive lift.

“He has done incredibly well to turn himself into a better player, slightly more focused in his mind and spending time with good professionals.

“He really does have a determination to get every bit of his professional life right to try and reach the top. He will be important for this team as it progresses.”

He has done incredibly well to turn himself into a better player. IAN CATHRO

Picture: SNS Group. John Souttar: seen by his manager as a future international centre-half.