Hearts boss Craig Levein left ‘gutted’ by ‘catastrophic’ injury to Ben Garuccio

HEARTS boss Craig Levein is ready to send stricken Ben Garuccio back to Australia so his family can help the Jambos defender come to terms with his ‘catastrophic’ injury.

The 23-year-old has been condemned to around 10 months on the sidelines after suffering devastating cruciate knee ligament damage in training earlier this week.

Garuccio, who has made 23 appearances for Hearts since joining from Adelaide United last summer, will require surgery before embarking on a tortuous rehabilitation programme which will not be completed until the early part of 2020.

Levein’s own career was cut short by knee issues and he was visibly devastated by the news yesterday, vowing to do everything in his power to aid the ‘sensitive’ Aussie’s recovery – including letting him rehab Down Under.

Levein said: “When I found out on the extent of the injury on Wednesday night, I was feeling really gutted for him. He is quite a sensitive boy and it’s so demoralising.

“He is over here on his own and his family are back in Australia.
“We might end up getting him operated on over there so that he can spend the the first three months at home. Even small things like cooking; he is better being back home and taken care of by his parents and friends.

“We will get something organised with a physio over there.

“I had a long chat with Ben about ‘what ifs’ and about staying positive. When you start looking at it, 10 months is a hell of a long time. Everybody struggles to deal with it.

“When you’re a young footballer, a year is a lifetime. So it’s about looking at the next milestone. Getting the operation is the next one, then it’s getting rid of his crutches, then jogging.

“You look at it in little chunks rather than thinking ‘oh no, I’m out for a year’.”

It is another setback in the catalogue of serious injuries suffered by Hearts stars this term, with Christophe Berra, John Souttar, Steven Naismith and Uche Ikpeazu among the key men who have all had lengthy layoffs.

It is particularly cruel on Garuccio, given he has recently established himself as the Jambos’ first-choice left-back after Demi Mitchell was sidelined for two months.

Levein continued: “Ninety per cent of the previous injuries we’ve had this season were contact injuries. They haven’t been something like this – a catastrophic kind of injury.

“There was nobody near him and he just twisted. Having experienced it myself, you just need to be in the wrong position and shift your weight.

“It’s a real shame as Ben had just got himself back in the team and was in a good place.”

Levein will look to either Bobby Burns or Jake Mulraney to fill the void at left-back for this weekend’s clash against Aberdeen.

Michael Smith will be another option when he returns to full fitness, with the Northern Ireland internationalist set to be in contention for the Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness on April 13.

Meanwhile, Levein has revealed that further contract talks with Scotland star Naismith have given him cause for optimism.

Reports this week suggested an agreement to bring the player to Tynecastle on a permanent basis when his deal with Norwich expires in the summer was imminent.

Levein responded: “We’re making progress and every time we agree something then it makes me feel that we’re making more progress. It’s inching closer.

“It’s not straight forward. There are loads and loads of things that need to be discussed and it just goes back and forward, back and forward.

“When you’re dealing with experienced players, you need to go through every single thing and that’s the process we’re going through just now.”