Hearts’ Souttar suffers a fresh injury shocker

John Souttar is injured again

Hearts defender John Souttar has been dealt another hammer-blow after suffering a relapse in his comeback from an Achilles tendon injury.

The luckless Scotland international has been battling back to fitness from a second snapped tendon, but has now experienced a new setback.

The 23-year-old ruptured his Achilles in February’s Scottish Cup victory over Rangers, and had hoped to return to action at the end of September. However, the former Dundee United stopper will now undergo a scan to assess the extent of the latest problem.

A Hearts statement read: “John Souttar has suffered a relapse of an Achilles injury. “The Scotland defender will go for a scan, which will present a clearer picture of the extent of his injury.”

Souttar injured his other Achilles against Celtic in January 2017 and spent only five months out of action before making his comeback in the League Cup.

But, with hip and ankle problems also plaguing the Aberdeen-born player, he recently confessed he feared his career was over when he suffered his second serious Achilles injury.

He has admitted he told physio Craig Maitland he was “done” after being floored by yet another blow.

Souttar recalled: “To be honest, for the first time ever, I thought I was finished. “I remember being stretchered off and being in the physio’s room with Craig.

“I just looked at him and said, ‘That’s me, I’m done’. He said, ‘Hey relax, take your time’.

“But I honestly wasn’t sure. I was really struggling. It’s the only time I’ve ever felt like that.

“It wasn’t that I gave up or was feeling sorry for myself. It was physically, I didn’t know if I’d be able to get back.

“It’s the rehab and everything that goes with it. I didn’t know if I had it in me to come through that again.”