Robbie Neilson insists he’ll have no problem throwing Rangers-bound John Souttar into the Ibrox cauldron for Hearts tomorrow.
The fit-again defender was the subject of three failed January bids by Gers, who have signed Souttar on a pre-contract deal.
But Neilson is adamant the situation won’t affect Souttar’s desire.
And he revealed the Scotland stopper didn’t want to move to the Premiership champions “on the cheap”.
Asked if it’s a tough decision to play Souttar, Neilson said: “Not at all. John is one of our best players and you want your best players to play. John knows the situation and he has dealt with it very well.
“If he’s fit he plays. If he’s not fit he won’t play. That’s it. John’s a top professional and a top player and when he goes out on the pitch he’ll give 100 per cent.
“His main objective now is, first and foremost, to get us European football and secondly stay in the Scotland set-up. If he continues to play the way he has been playing he will do that.
“He didn’t want to go on the cheap and wanted us to get what we deserved. We didn’t get that offer so we made the decision to keep him and he’s more than happy to do that for us.”
“He’s a great professional, great kid, and he’s proven that with the injuries he’s come back from - many wouldn’t come back from one and he’s come back from three. I’ve great belief that if we put him he’ll take it in his stride.”
Neilson wants to eat into the 13-gap to Rangers who sit in second place in the table and can take belief from their 1-1 draw at Ibrox back in October.
The Hearts boss said: “We’ve got to go with belief we can get points when we go through to Glasgow. We got a point the last time - can we take the next step and get three points?
“It will be very difficult but we have to believe. When you come up from the Championship you’re never really sure where you’re going to be.
“We had a good season last season but coming into the top flight is a different story so we’re pleased with where we are the moment but there’s still a lot of hard work to be done and we want to try and secure that third spot and get as close as we can to the Old Firm.”
