JOHN Souttar believes caretaker manager Jon Daly has prepared Hearts for the “14 away games” they face before returning to Tynecastle in November - by making them more reliable defensively, writes Matthew Lindsay.
Souttar and his team mates kept their second consecutive clean sheet in the hard-fought 0-0 draw with Rangers in a Ladbrokes Premeirship game at Ibrox on Saturday.
The 20-year-old, who has returned to action from an Achilles injury two months earlier than expected, believes they can go into their forthcoming matches at BT Murrayfield with confidence.
The capital club will play their first three home games in the league against Aberdeen, St. Johnstone and Rangers at Murrayfield while the new main stand at their own stadium is being completed.
“We’re going to need to be tough to beat,” said Souttar. “We might not be able to play the open football you want to play. If we’re going to have 14 away games we need to be resolute and hard to beat and that’s what we’re achieving out there.
“In the long-run for the club, considering where it’s been, it’s for the best. If you said three years ago 14 away games and you get a new stand everyone in Edinburgh would have jumped at it.
“Look at it like that and it’s no worry. We’re the club’s players, they pay our wages so 14 away games isn’t going to be too detrimental.”
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