ROBBIE Neilson tonight expressed confidence that John Souttar is ready to represent Scotland again if Steve Clarke calls the Hearts centre half up for the Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Moldova and Denmark.
Grant Hanley of Norwich City was forced to pull out of the final Group F double header on Friday due to a groin injury that is expected to sideline him for a fortnight.
The loss of the experienced defender is huge blow to Clarke - his side can secure second spot in their section and a play-off place if they win in Chisinau next week.
However, Neilson believes three-times capped Souttar, who has been plagued by injuries in the past two seasons and last represented his country in 2018, would be the perfect replacement.
Asked if Clarke had been in touch after an emphatic 5-2 win over Dundee United in a cinch Premiership game at Tynecastle that saw Hearts move into second spot, he said: "Nothing from Steve yet, so I'll just need to wait and see.
“But if John gets called up I'd be delighted for him personally because he's had a hard time in the last couple of years and in the last three months he's been outstanding for us.
"He's probably been ready for it for years. Will he go there and start? I don't know, but to be involved with it would be great for him.
"I'd prefer him not to be honest, to have an easy time and make sure he's ready for Motherwell (after the international break). If he gets called up, it's a great honour for him and I'm sure he'll enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, Neilson confirmed that Hearts keeper Gordon, who went down clutching his hand in the second-half of the United victory, will be fit to play for Scotland in the Qatar 2022 qualifiers.
“He has a wee problem with one of his fingers,” he said. “He just caught it, but he will be fine. He goes away in the next couple of days and hopefully he will do well.
"If Craig plays in the next two Scotland games that's him the most-capped Hearts player in history. So I hope he plays in the two games, I'd be delighted for him. There's no chance of him not going, not even with a stookie up.”
Meanwhile, Tam Courts, the Dundee United manager, has revealed he will know the extent of the injury that forced Charlie Mulgrew, his centre half, to come off at half-time in Gorgie on Monday.
The 35-year-old, who has won 44 caps for Scotland, last month stressed that he hasn’t retired from international football and is still available for selection by Clarke.
Courts sad: “The feedback we have just had from the medical staff is that it is a muscular spasm so it will take 48 hours to assess that. So I am not too sure the significance of the injury, it is too hard to day just now.”
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