Hearts were dealt a major blow today when the result of defender Callum Paterson’s scan on his knee revealed serious damage which will require an immediate operation. The 22-year-old Scotland right back fell on the touchline during Tuesday night’s 4-0 hammering of Kilmarnock and immediately signalled to the Hearts bench he was in trouble.
It is expected Paterson, who is out of contract at the end of this season, will be out for up to 10 months.
Hearts Head Coach Ian Cathro told the official Hearts website:
“It’s a bad one for Callum and everyone here is gutted for him. There was real concern for him last night and unfortunately that concern has compounded with the news that he could be out for up to 10 months.
“Callum’s a top-class player and we’ll miss him in the first-team, but we now have to look to those within the squad to step up and fill the void. We’ll help Callum as much as we can though this difficult time.”
It’s a devastating blow for Hearts and for Paterson who has also established himself as an important member of Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad. Hearts Director of Football Craig Levein recently told the club’s AGM that it would take an offer of £1m to prise Paterson away from Tynecastle during the January transfer window.
His enforced absence means an opportunity for Liam Smith to make a name for himself in the Hearts team.
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
