Hearts ace John Souttar will be back for the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers.
And boss Robbie Neilson is adamant the returning centre-back’s signing of a pre-contract at Ibrox will have no bearing on his potential selection at Hampden.
Souttar has been absent for the past seven weeks having sustained an ankle injury and undergone subsequent tidy-up surgery.
However, the 25-year-old is set to return to the training fold with the door now open for the Scotland international to also get valuable game-time in the Premiership ahead of the showpiece at the National Stadium on May 21.
Souttar’s return will also be positive news for Scots boss Steve Clarke as he eyes the World Cup play-off against Ukraine and summer Nations League clashes in June.
Neilson said: “John will start running early next week, so he will be available for the Final, which is good news.
“The plan was always to try to get him back for the final couple of games of the season.
“John has big Scotland games in the summer and he wants to be part of them, as does Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley and Barrie McKay, so they need to make sure they play well in these games and in the Final to get into that squad.”
Neilson insists there will be no issue about picking Souttar in the Final to face the club he will join in the summer with the clubs also due to clash seven days beforehand in the Premiership at Tynecastle.
Asked if it may pose any quandary, Neilson stated: “No, to be honest, we will pick the best team.
“We are hoping to have him back for, potentially, the Celtic game, definitely Motherwell, which will give him a run into the Rangers [league] game and the Final.
“And the best players and the best team will play.”
Neilson could also have Souttar’s fellow Scotland international and backline partner Halkett back for the showpiece showdown against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men.
The 26-year-old was stretchered off during last weekend’s semi-final win over Hibs due to an ankle injury.
Halkett is undergoing medical tests and scans and Neilson, who will have Michael Smith back for Sunday’s game against Dundee United and will make medical checks on Andy Halliday and Kingsley before the trip to Tayside, says news is imminent.
He revealed: “Halkett will be assessed by another specialist to see whether he will make the Final or not. We shall see.”
