STEVEN NAISMITH has backed John Souttar to return from his latest injury blow after he was ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

The defender was forced off in the opening stages of Hearts’ Scottish Cup win over Rangers on Saturday as Olly Bozanic netted the only goal of the quarter-final clash.

Boss Daniel Stendel confirmed that Souttar won’t play again this term and Naismith was gutted to see the 23-year-old suffer another cruel setback.

He said: I’m gutted for him. He’s not a guy who comes off easily. He is somebody who strives to get better and taps into every bit of knowledge from the older pros and for him to come off and have the injuries he’s had his brutal for him.

“He’s a guy who is just starting out internationally and wants to kick on and he’s getting hit with a sledgehammer like that. We’ve got good people around the club who will hopefully push him through.

“With the injuries he’s had it’s not as if they’re muscular and it can be put down to his professionalism, he’s one of the most professional guys I’ve worked with and he’s desperate to get better. It’s really sad, it be a few tough coming weeks but he’s mentally strong and he will come back from it.”