Surgery success for Callum

Robbie Neilson has received a huge boost with the news that Callum Paterson's layoff from injury won't be as long as first feared.

Callum was stretchered off at half-time in the Jambos' 3-1 win over Annan Athletic last Saturday, with initial fears that the right-back had sustained a substantial injury.

But following specialist advice, the Scotland U21 cap underwent surgery this morning to tidy up the damaged area around his knee, with a return to training likely to take place in a couple of months.

Speaking exclusively to Hearts News, head coach Robbie said: "We had Callum looked at and, once it was realised that the injury wasn't as bad as we first thought, went ahead with surgery.

"The operation - a medial menisectomy - was a tidy-up job which went absolutely fine. Because of the nature of the injury, we believe Callum will return to the training field in around a couple of months.

"It's still an injury that will keep him on the sideline for the foreseeable, but because we could've been looking at six months out or longer, it's a huge relief that it isn't as bad as that.

"Callum will start his rehabilitation straight away and I'm sure he will come back stronger and better than ever."