Old masters teaching Souttar to be Hearts class act
FIVE years after embarking upon his apprenticeship as a first-team footballer with Dundee United, every day of John Souttar’s life remains a school day.
Now aged 21, the Hearts defender has long since burst through the magical 100-game barrier that tends to symbolise a rite of passage for those making their way in the game.
If anything, the gradient of the learning curve has only become steeper this season. In any trade, the value of the information being imparted can only ever be as good as the sources from which it emanates.
‘We do a lot of work on how the manager wants to play and I am learning from Aaron Hughes and Christophe Berra all the time,’ said Souttar. ‘They have been so important to my development.
‘I have learned loads from them on and off the pitch. They are experienced and pass on what they have picked up to me.
‘It’s massive for us to have them and Don Cowie in the dressing room as they lead by example.
‘All the young players look up to them and get lessons on how you should live your life on the pitch and off it.
‘They are role models for the rest of the team. I know the likes of Harry Cochrane are really looking up to them and seeing how they live their lives.
‘You have to have players like that around the place. They are looking at Don putting in 12km during matches at the age of 34 and seeing how it should be done.’
On recent evidence, the next generation of Hearts players are approaching training at Riccarton each day with their ears pinned back and eyes wide open.
The tricks of the trade being revealed are ideally how it should be at a club and there’s now a sense of equilibrium and natural order being restored.
Craig Levein’s willingness to afford opportunities to 16-yearolds like Cochrane and Anthony McDonald has been all the more eye-catching for the fact it’s coincided with his team assuming miserly defensive qualities.
Saturday’s goalless draw away to Aberdeen, which brought up a record-breaking sixth successive clean sheet, was not pretty but spoke of a cohesion never evident on Ian Cathro’s watch.
‘It’s a big achievement to keep six clean sheets in a row and the lads were delighted to do it,’ added Souttar. ‘The game wasn’t the best but to go up there and stop them scoring is a good result.
‘Obviously you don’t want to be doing that all the time but we can do it if required.
‘When the gaffer came in, he said we had to stop losing goals, become harder to beat and give ourselves a platform to build on.
‘That is something we have done lately and we are getting better all the time.
‘We do a lot of ball and possession work in training. I think things have just clicked.
‘It was tough at the start of the season, especially being away from Tynecastle. That is where we build things and since we got back, we haven’t lost.
‘Throughout the first part of the season we couldn’t wait to get back there and we are showing why.’
Unbeaten in nine matches but having drawn six, the next task for Levein is to add a layer of attacking intent to a highly durable defensive base. It’s all a matter of priorities. Ever the pragmatist, the former Scotland manager ensures the horse is ahead of the cart before it attempts to gather pace. Perhaps as much as anything, the acquisition of goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin has allowed one foot to be put in front of the other. ‘Jon has been brilliant since he came in,’ added Souttar. ‘His saves against Aberdeen were world class. ‘He is an excellent keeper. Even when he isn’t busy during games, he’s always there when we need him. ‘He’s right up there with the best keepers I’ve played with. ‘Jack Hamilton was great last season but Jon has the experience of playing in England and that has been massive.’ Used occasionally as a midfielder throughout his formative years at United, Hearts are now beginning to reap the benefits of a central defender who can do what it says on the tin but can also play when asked. Comparisons with Levein in his Tynecastle pomp are valid. The Hearts boss certainly knows a talent when he sees one. Asked on Saturday about reported interest from Derby County in Souttar, Levein insisted his player would be by-passing the English Championship if he continued to perform to that level.
‘It’s nice to hear that from the gaffer but I am just focused on Hearts right now,’ said Souttar.
‘The club took me in when I wasn’t in the best of form and they have developed me.
‘I am due them something back and also due the fans something back because they have been brilliant to me.
‘I’m not thinking about anything else, I just want to be part of a successful Hearts team.
‘The January window isn’t something I have even thought about.’
It would take a substantial offer for Hearts to even consider cashing in on such an asset at this point. It will happen in time, but, for now, the speculation will wash over the player. There’s an ongoing apprenticeship to worry about.
‘When I was younger, I experienced (speculation) and struggled with it a bit, but I’m 21 now and have more experience behind me,’ he said. ‘So it’s not something that will bother me. I just want to enjoy the break and come back ready to go again.
‘The last year had a lot of lows for me with my Achilles, so it’s been good to end it like it has.
‘I just want to keep developing in 2018 and help the team climb the table.
‘We are back at Tynecastle now, so there is plenty to look forward to.’