Hearts youngster Callum Paterson may retain striking berth against Dundee United

By COLLEEN STRACHAN
Published on 19/09/2012 14:28

HEARTS boss John McGlynn may keep the faith with kid Callum Paterson in attack this weekend against Dundee 
United.

The 17-year-old has featured mainly in defence this season but, with options up front limited by personnel and cash 
restraints, McGlynn freshened things up for Saturday’s game against St Mirren which ended in a 2-0 defeat. The youngster was pitched into attack, with Ryan McGowan filling the right-back role, and he came close a couple of times against Danny Lennon’s men.

McGlynn saw enough in the 90 minutes to convince him that Paterson can fill the gaps up front, although supporters are still keen to see Rudi Skacel make a sensational return to Tynecastle.

McGlynn said: “Callum has got lot of good assets. He has got good pace, he is good with both feet and he caused St Mirren’s defenders problems.

“He is a big lad, he is not pushed about or shoved about and if he had got the ball in the back of the net then he would have been a hero.

“Callum has played in a number of positions for us and that is testament to Darren Murray, our youth coach, who plays players in all sorts of different positions as they are coming through.

“Callum actually came to Hearts from Tynecastle Boys Club as a striker and during his time here he has moved back and played at centre half and full back. You can see his assets are certainly going forward and, with Ryan McGowan going back into full-back, it gave us the opportunity to play Callum in a wide area and also up front. He is a good player to have.”

Hearts are desperate to bounce back after defeats by both Dundee and St Mirren in their last two matches and,

despite being one of the youngest members of the current Hearts squad, the onus may again be placed on Paterson to get the goals.

“We will have to wait and see. Sometimes it is horses for courses. We felt that he could cause problems on Saturday - and I think he did that,” McGlynn added.

Meanwhile Hearts will today formally notify the SPL of their failure to pay a number of their first-team stars their August wages.

Under the top flight’s new financial fair play rules, clubs must inform the governing body of any delay to salaries in a “timely manner”.

The club is also waiting to find out if they will be fined by Uefa after fans went on to the pitch at Anfield last month in the second leg of their Europa League play-off against Liverpool.