WHOSE CALL?

Former Hearts defender Jimmy Sandison has urged Callum Paterson to sign a new contract at Tynecastle rather than “gamble” with his future.

The Scotland internationalist saw his hopes of a careerdefining January transfer dashed last month when he suffered damage to a cruciate knee ligament during Hearts’ 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

With surgery and a gruelling rehabilitation schedule required, Paterson – who was being tracked by a host of English clubs including Derby County and reportedly West Ham United – faces another nine months on the sidelines.

To complicate matters, the 22-year-old’s deal with Hearts expires in June, meaning he is faced with the dilemma of whether to sign a new contract with the capital club and work his way back to fitness, or take a leap of faith that an English club will still snap him up despite his injury woes.

As far as Sandison is concerned, the decision is an obvious one.

“I think it would make sense to stay here for at least another year and get himself back to where he was rather than take the gamble,” said the 51-yearold, speaking as he promoted Hearts Legends’ charity football

“Does Callum chap on Hearts’ door, do they chap on his? I would have thought the club would come to him . But all the bargaining power is with Hearts”

JIMMY SANDISON