John Souttar “doesn’t have a bad word to say” about Dundee United fans, despite the fact some of them booed him towards the end of his Tannadice career.
The 19-year-old, who is expected to make his Hearts debut against Ross County tonight, said: “Fans pay their money so it’s up to them what they say. They booed in a few games but I think I’m big enough to take that on the chin. The higher you go, it’s going to happen.
“I don’t have a bad word to say about the fans. A lot of things happened, things got released that weren’t necessarily true. As a player, you don’t really have a voice to back yourself up.
“Fans hear one thing and I can completely understand where they’re coming from. I can see where their frustrations came from.
“We were bottom of the league so it was completely understandable.
“I think a lot of stuff came out at United which didn’t help anything.
“I don’t really want to talk about that. I’m delighted to be here and I think the challenge ahead of me is exciting.”
Souttar was relieved that the deadline day move went through just in time.
“It was crazy,” he said. “It was so last-minute.
“I came in for training at United and Mixu (Paatelainen) pulled me in. He said: ‘There have been a few bids from Hearts but it’s not happening, the chairman doesn’t want to let you go. Just concentrate on the game at the weekend and get your head on that. You’ll be playing’.
“I went home and went to watch a film, Dirty Grandpa, at the cinema with my pal and my girlfriend. My phone goes in the cinema and it’s basically: ‘Get to Edinburgh but the bridge is closed’.
“We got to the bridge and it was open. If it was closed I’d probably have struggled to get there on time.
“I had my heart set on going to Hearts so I would’ve been gutted if it hadn’t gone through.
“I felt it was definitely the right time to leave for a fresh challenge. I’d been there since I was eight so I owe a lot to Dundee United.
“But I needed to leave. I don’t like seeing the club where it is just now but I think it was the right time to leave, get a fresh challenge and a fresh start.”