BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
SCOTLAND defender Callum Paterson insists he is ready to step up his recovery from cruciate knee ligament damage.
Paterson, 22, suffered the devastating injury in Hearts’ Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock in December following a clash with Nathan Tyson, scuppering a potential January transfer for the promising right-back.
He underwent surgery at a respected clinic in Bradford at the start of the year and is ahead of schedule in his recovery. He recently started running again with the aid of a state-of-the-art anti-gravity treadmill.
And Paterson, who was originally slated for a return to action in October, has revealed that a visit to his specialist this week has heralded further good news.
Using Instagram to offer an update on his comeback, he wrote: “Good feedback from the surgeon, can’t wait to kick on in the recovery process and get back on the pitch.”
Hearts have vowed to support Paterson throughout his recovery but are unlikely to reap the benefits of his return to full fitness, with head coach Ian Cathro having confirmed that the player is unlikely to sign an extension to his current contract.
Paterson’s deal expires at the end of June, albeit Hearts will be due close to £400,000 in compensation from any club that snaps him up.
