It’s all been a bit too familiar for Levein
That’s why he believes the crocked Hearts star will return from his injury hell stronger than before.
Souttar is steeling himself for surgery on the Achilles tendon he damaged during the Jam Tarts’ 4-0 loss to Celtic last Sunday.
After bouncing back twice from serious injury during his own playing days, Levein knows the 20-year-old faces a lengthy and arduous recovery.
But he reckons Souttar, along with crocked Hearts team-mate Callum Paterson, can emerge from the stiffest test of their young careers by drawing on their mental strength.
“I’ve spoken to them both,” said the Jam Tarts’ director of football.
“It’s simple for me – you have this initial period of devastation going on in your head where you ask: ‘Why me? What’s going to happen now? How am I going to get back to the same level?’
“Once you get over that initial period you need to focus.
“Rather than thinking it’s 10 months until I’m back playing, first focus on the operation. After that, get walking without crutches. Then the next stage. Those little chunks.
“That’s much better than thinking I’ve nine months and three weeks to go.
“It’s the scenario where you don’t look at the top of the hill because it’s too far away.”
While Levein takes a professional interest in every player on Hearts’ books, with Souttar, it’s personal.
And he reckons the “harsh” demands placed on him after he was blooded by Dundee United aged 16 have ultimately made him stronger.
“He has had a tough time of it. He played a lot of games at Dundee United and was judged at 17 years old,” said Levein.
“I didn’t play centreback at Hearts until I was 19 and I couldn’t win a header for two years – that’s
“OK, I was tall, but I was weak. I saw that in John.
“A lot of things happened at United. The team was weakened with a lot of players leaving and he became a focal point. He was judged and it was just far too young for him.
“He played right-back, centre midfield. He is a centre-back.
“That’s OK for a 25-yearold who feels capable of doing these things but, for a young kid, I thought it was harsh.”
Despite his misgivings about Souttar’s treatment at Tannadice, United is still a club Levein is fond of.
He returned to Tayside in midweek to help launch Tangerines star Sean Dillon’s testimonial match against Hearts on March 21.
And looking back, the former United boss pinpoints his time in Tayside as vital for his professional development.
“It was a good, enjoyable period. Eddie Thompson was a fantastic man and I had a lot of time for him,” he said.