Cathro backs Souttar to bounce back and be key player for Scotland
IAN CATHRO believes John Souttar is destined to be a key player for Scotland after insisting the Hearts defender has the grit to bounce back from injury and reach the top.
Souttar, who has six caps at Under21 level, has been touted as the answer to the lack of top-quality options available to manager Gordon Strachan in that area.
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 him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Nevertheless, Cathro believes Souttar’s time will come back stronger.
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.”
Cathro worked with Souttar as a 10-year-old when the youngster joined his Dundee-based private coaching programme. He watched him blossom into a first-team player with Dundee 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.”
Meanwhile, Hearts striker Esmael Goncalves is adamant the Jambos have not given up hope of reeling in Rangers.
A run of just one win in five Premiership fixtures have seen Cathro’s side drop off the pace in the race for Europe, slipping to fifth spot, nine points behind Pedro Caixinha’s side.
Nevertheless, the Portuguese marksman insists the men in maroon can catch the Glasgow giants. Goncalves said: “It is possible to catch Rangers. Our last few results haven’t gone so well but there are still nine games to go. That’s 27 points. A lot can happen.
“We want to take Hearts into Europe. It’s what the players want and what the club needs. This is a team that must be playing in Europe.”