Don Cowie hails in-demand Hearts defender Callum Paterson as deadline nears

Don Cowie reckons the suitors chasing Hearts right-back Callum Paterson will be getting more than just a steady defender if they can prise him away from Tynecastle.

Cowie's old club Wigan have seen two offers for the Scotland defender turned down by Gorgie chiefs, who value the 21-year-old at £1million-plus.

But Jambos head coach Robbie Neilson is already bracing himself for another approach ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline.

Former Cardiff and Watford midfielder Cowie has no doubt, though, that Paterson - who scored Hearts' opener in the 2-1 win over Partick Thistle on Saturday - can shine in England and reckons his ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch will make him especially attractive to clubs down south.

He said: "Callum is still a young player but he is an experienced player.

"He has played a lot of games already but has just got on with things these couple of weeks while all this speculation that has been going on. That says a lot about his character.

"Against St Johnstone in the cup, he scored and won a penalty for us. He was brilliant against Inverness last week despite all the rumours going round about offers coming in for him.

"Then against Thistle he popped up with another vital goal for us. He's not just a right-back, he's a real goal threat and if someone does come in and sign him, that's what they'll get."

Liam Lindsay cancelled out Paterson's first-half header 10 minutes into the second period at Firhill but there was only heartbreak for Jags when Tony Watt fired home a stoppage-time winner to hand Hearts their second successive victory.

And Cowie says the five-game run without a win which came before last week's 5-1 mauling of Caley Thistle has now been forgotten about.

He said: "We go into the international break now with seven points and all of a sudden things aren't looking so bad. It's not an amazing start but it's a good start.

"There were a lot positives to take even from the defeat to Celtic.

"You saw against Thistle how strong our squad is getting. We're able to throw Jamie Walker and big Bjorn Johnson on late in the game after starting with them on the bench.

"Guys like Alim Ozturk, who is our club captain, was also on the bench so the competition for places is very strong.

"We know we're a good side but we've got to back that up with results. No matter how you do it, you need to get the points on the board and Saturday was one of those days."

Jags keeper Tomas Cerny was left to lament another afternoon where his side ended up empty-handed despite having opportunities to take all three points.

He said: "As we did against Aberdeen, I thought we played a good game against Hearts but little things have decided that we have not taken any points.

"We need to to take the positives but learn from the negatives.

"If you are in a position where you are at 1-1 with Hearts going into the last minute, you need to see it out."

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