Cowie’s backing protege Souttar to bounce back

DON COWIE admits he felt ‘sick’ after learning that his protege John Souttar has suffered a major setback in his recovery from an Achilles injury.

But the former Hearts midfielder, now a coach at Ross County, believes that if anyone can battle back from another potentially agonising rehabilitation programme it is the talented young Scotland and Tynecastle defender.

The luckless Souttar (below), who has been out of action since February when he ruptured his Achilles in a Scottish Cup victory over Rangers, had already missed a large chunk of last season due to ankle surgery.

He has had to contend with a series of injury problems since moving to Hearts from Dundee United in 2016, including an earlier Achilles tendon rupture, but now the 23-year-old has been left devastated again after, it is understood, he suffered a relapse while running last Friday.

Former Jambos captain Cowie was among the first people Souttar contacted to break the bad news to.

‘I felt sick,’ said the ex-Scotland international, with Hearts expected to learn today whether the defender will require further surgery and for how long his anticipated recovery has been extended.

‘John called me to let me know what had happened,’ said Cowie. ‘I wouldn’t wish what he has gone through in the past three years on anyone. We all know how good he is, and how good he could be, so to get another setback is tragic. The mental side of it is really unimaginable, particularly given he was just getting back to full fitness. Now this.

‘But what I said to John was: “If anyone can come back from this, it’s you.”. That’s easy for me to say but I genuinely believe it because I’ve seen how he has dealt with these things in the past.

‘It will take days, maybe weeks, to digest what has happened but, once that is done, I have full confidence John has the personality and desire to get back.’ The hope at Hearts, for the moment, is just that Souttar’s fledgling career is not at risk. Achilles, ankle, knee and hip issues have all made up a lamentable list of past injuries. His latest setback comes at a particularly brutal time, casting a cloud over Hearts’ return to training this morning following their contentious, enforced hiatus.

Souttar was also likely to have been part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel and Czech Republic as he sought to add to his three caps.

And Cowie cannot help but rue the ongoing absence of a player he believes is capable of being a mainstay at international level.

‘The highest compliment I can pay John is that he’s one of the best defenders I’ve played with during my career,’ insisted the 37-year-old former Watford, Cardiff and Wigan star Cowie.

‘He was very young but ticked all the boxes as a modern centre-half. He’s quick, he learned to be aggressive, puts in the hours in the gym and is an incredible passer of the ball.

‘I’ve no doubt he would be playing every game for Scotland if he had enjoyed a clean bill of health. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case. I can only hope that his recovery goes well and he can start progressing towards that level again.’

Cowie, signed for Hearts by Robbie Neilson during the latter’s first spell in charge, takes some solace in the support network Souttar will find at Tynecastle.

‘He has great people around him in his family, and they will support him. And he could not have a better manager during what will be a tough time,’ Cowie added.

‘Robbie’s man-management style is terrific and I’m quite sure he’ll be working with John in the right way.

‘John has a hugely-infectious character and is usually the man in the dressing room making others laugh and lifting the spirits — but now it’s time for his team-mates, friends and family to be the ones doing that for him.’

Hearts, meanwhile, have started talks with New Zealand international defender Tommy Smith following the news of Souttar’s relapse.

Smith, 30, who made more than 250 appearances in 11 years with Ipswich Town, is a free agent after leaving Sunderland and has also turned out for Colorado, Colchester, Brentford and Stevenage.