BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
HEARTS head coach Ian Cathro is adamant Aaron Hughes’ continued injury woes will not alter his plan to offer the veteran defender a new deal.
The 37-year-old enjoyed a fine start to his Tynecastle career after joining the club in January, making eight appearances and cutting a composed figure in the centre of defence before succumbing to a calf complaint.
Hughes has not played since the Jambos’ Scottish Cup exit to Hibs in February, despite the knock initially being expected to keep the player out for a matter of weeks. Although his condition has improved, he will not face Partick Thistle on Saturday.
However, Cathro has no fears about Hughes’ long-term fitness and still intends to have the Northern Ireland international in Edinburgh next season.
“We are looking into keeping him for next season and the injury doesn’t have any bearing on that,” confirmed Cathro. “It’s not an injury that’s going to cause a concern long term. It’s just about getting to the point where it’s fully recovered and once it’s dealt with properly there’s no threat of it causing him any issues in the longer term.
“It’s been a frustrating one, for Aaron and for us. It’s just one of those injuries where you get a couple of setbacks, not necessarily from anything he is doing or because of his body – it’s just in a bit of an awkward place.
“Obviously there’s not a long time left but we are pretty much certain we’ll have him back in the team before the end of the season. We just need to make sure that we get it right.
“He is really important to the game plan and what we’ve been trying to do here. The player he is and the man he is, he transmits a comfort to the players. He’s one of the guys who came here to be a bit of a message carrier for me. He was a very important signing – and he will be because we’ll have him back soon.
Cathro, who confirmed that Prince Buaben and Lennard Sowah have returned to full fitness this week, acknowledges that Hughes’ quality and calming influence has been sorely missed.
And he reckons the pedigree of the former Fulham, Newcastle and Aston Villa ace remains – and will continue to be – pivotal within the squad.
“I’ve got no doubt at all that having Aaron in the team helps,” continued Cathro. “It helps the team and it helps players around him. We miss his influence but these are things that happen over the course of a season.
“He’s one of the older players that we have and it’s important that we have those characters – and maybe bring some more to make sure that we have the right strength, experience and leadership for the group.
“People look to him because they know that he’s lived through all sorts of experiences that some of our younger players go to bed and have dreams about!
“He has a real influence off the pitch but, first of all, he’s an important player and that’s why I’m looking forward to getting him back in the team.”
