Craig Gordon will sympathise with John Souttar if he suffers from a supporter backlash over his pending move to Rangers. Not only is the defender a trusted dressing-room ally, but there is also a shared empathy over the injuries that have threatened to call time prematurely on both Hearts players’ careers.

Gordon is enjoying a remarkable renaissance in the twilight of his playing days. At one point without a club for two years because of battles with knee problems, Gordon was resurrected by Celtic and again, after a lack of game-time in his final season at Parkhead, at his beloved Hearts.

A new two-year contract announced on Hogmanay, on his 39th birthday, was an indication of his importance to the Tynecastle outfit, where he is skipper and father figure, as well as the source of many of the points that put the side third ahead of tonight’s meeting with St Johnstone.

Souttar has also been a key figure for Hearts since his return in April from a third Achilles tendon rupture. It is a story that even brought a smile to the outwardly dour demeanour of Scotland manager Steve Clarke when the former Dundee United player scored in his first international appearance for three years in November’s 2-0 victory over Denmark.

Gordon believes it is a narrative that should also be borne in mind by any snipers upset at the 25-year-old’s decision to pledge his future to Rangers. There will be no issues within the Hearts squad, only support, if there is any negativity flung in their trusted colleague’s direction.

“I speak to John a lot,” said the Scotland goalkeeper. “He’s probably the one in the squad I go to the most to chat about the team or passing on messages. He’s a good leader. I speak to him quite a bit about the dressing room and tactical things. He’s my main ally and I’ll be disappointed to see him go because he’s been fantastic around the place.

“Even when he was injured he showed real desire to get back and in training his desire to push his team-mates on will be missed.

“But nobody has any problems. Not a single team-mate will expect anything less than 100 per cent because we see it every single day and we have done for the last number of years. We’ve all seen the determination he’s shown to get back from injury and make sure he is back in that Hearts team.

“Players more than fans realise this stuff goes on all the time. We know that we can rely on him and he will do his job when asked.

“He will continue to give everything that he has got; there’s no doubt about that whatsoever. You don’t come back from those types of injuries if you’ve not got a really strong mentality. I’ve got no problem, whatsoever, with him from that side of things.

“I can understand the fans will be disappointed. I’m disappointed that he won’t be playing in front of me every week. But these things happen in football and we all move on. This team will continue to improve and that’s just the way it is. I’m sure the rest of the team will get round him if there is any negativity and make sure we go and win the game.”

Gordon’s own career appeared to be over when he took two years out of the game after being released by Sunderland in May 2012. Stints as a television pundit and in coaching followed but, having fought back from the brink, the Hearts captain recognises the battles endured by Souttar - and his right to seek future security.

“For him to come back from where he was just over a year ago, thinking he may never play football again, and to get himself back playing as well if not better than he has ever played in his career before, that takes  a lot,” added Gordon. “That is a huge effort.

“From that point of view, I only have admiration for how well he has come back. The character he has shown to bounce back from those injuries and, not only that, but to be a good team-mate along the way. He was the one still pushing the standards. He is always in the gym and always the last man to leave. 

“He is going to be a big miss but I understand how hard he has worked for what will happen to him now. It is a four-year contract he’s signed, which is big for him. I’m sure Rangers will pay him a lot more than Hearts could do and that is just the reality of the situation.

“Hearts are trying to get to the next level and maybe one day it might be different and we can do that to other teams and take their players. This will sting a little bit for the fans as he is still staying in Scotland. But, these things in football can happen.”