Souttar backed to return stronger

Hearts boss Ian Cathro believes John Souttar can come back better than ever from his injury nightmare.

The Jambos defender had to be stretchered off during Sunday’s defeat at Celtic Park after suffering a suspected ruptured Achilles.

The worst-case scenario would see the Scotland Under-21 cap ruled out for a year.

Cathro admits that would be a bitter blow for a player who has been tipped as a candidate for Gordon Strachan’s full international squad.

He said: “We are still going through the consultations and things but it doesn’t look like it’s a great situation.

“We’re still checking up some things but he has an Achilles problem for sure.

“Will he miss the rest of the season? That’s a possibility.

“The situation with John is one where his career will flourish, irrespective of what has happened.

“He is a very talented, a very motivated young player. He also has a very strong mind, he’s had to deal with some bits and pieces of flak and frustration, even from his time at Dundee United.

“That was a bit of a challenge for him but he is a strong young man having dealt with that.”

Cathro looks set to hand Esmael Goncalves a debut against Rangers at Tynecastle tonight.

The striker, who joined in a £170,000 deal from Anorthosis Famagusta on Monday, will need little introduction to the Jambos support having helped shoot them down while playing for St Mirren in the 2013 League Cup final.

Greek pair Tasos Avlonitis and Alexandros Tziolis are also in the squad

Rangers will be without Michael O’Halloran, who starts a two-game ban after being sent off against Motherwell at the weekend.

Danny Wilson and Lee Hodson return from injury while new goalkeeper Jak Alnwick is available after signing from Port Vale, but Joe Garner, Jordan Rossiter and Niko Kranjcar remain out.