John Sutton: ‘Gary Locke key to Hearts future’

Sutton’s dejection after the 3-2 defeat by St Mirren in the Scottish Communities League Cup final was evident but he could still hopes for good times ahead under Locke.

Sutton often found himself sidelined by the formations of Locke’s predecessors Paulo Sergio and John McGlynn after the man who signed him, Jim Jefferies, was sacked three games into last season.

Sutton, who has a year left on his contract, said of Locke’s appointment: “It’s great news, everyone is really pleased. I’m really hopeful that most of us are going to stay together. You always have comings and goings but it is a strong squad. If we can get everyone fit and playing in a similar manner to what we have been, I don’t think we are far away from doing well.”

Sutton headed against the post after Ryan Stevenson  had given Hearts a tenth-minute lead but Saints turned the game on its head after being outplayed in the opening 36 minutes and survived a late fight-back during which Stevenson scored again.

Sutton said: “We had our chances and didn’t take them and they probably had a few less but they took them very well. That’s football, Inverness will probably feel aggrieved that they missed some chances and went out on penalties [in the semi-finals].

“St Mirren were very clinical with their chances so we can’t have too much complaints. We just weren’t quite good enough on the day so well done to St Mirren.”

There was a lift from the post-final gloom yesterday for Hearts midfielder Jamie Walker, who was called into the Scotland Under-21 squad for their opening European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg next Monday after Celtic’s Tony Watt and Kilmarnock’s Rory McKenzie pulled out.