Confident Robbie Neilson is hoping to tie up John Souttar on a new Hearts contract.
After an injury-plagued spell at Tynecastle, the 24-year-old has made an instant impact on the Jambos' return to the Scottish Premiership.
With just a year left on his current contract, Neilson has revealed that talks have opened with the Scotland cap over an extension.
With the defender returning from two ruptured Achilles in a seven-month period, he hopes to give Souttar will enjoy his football in the capital this term.
Neilson told the Edinburgh Evening News: "We’ve spoken to John about it. It’s something we’re trying to do.
"John’s a top player. Devastated to lose him last season, delighted to get him back and as soon as he was fit he was in the team.
"He’s been hindered with injuries and it has been a difficult few years for him but hopefully we can give him the platform to get back to where he was and enjoying playing his football again.
"The last season he was involved in was a relegation one so to come back and have a season where we are hopefully winning the majority of games he will enjoy it.”
