Callum Paterson earned right to leave Hearts '“ Cathro

Ian Cathro admits Callum Paterson was right to leave Hearts to further his career after the Scotland full-back signed a three-year deal with Cardiff City.

Callum Paterson has signed a three-year deal with Cardiff City

Whilst disappointed to lose the 22-year-old, the Tynecastle head coach conceded that Paterson will relish the challenge in England’s Championship once he recovers from knee ligament damage.

Hearts will receive just under £400,000 in compensation as the player is under 23. The deal also includes a sell-on clause, entitling the Edinburgh club to 15 per cent of any future sale.

Cathro wished Paterson well and admitted he now has the chance to reach the very top level south of the Border.

He said: “Callum has been great for the club. He’s been a very important player and important person around the place. On a personal level, I just wish him well. I hope he keeps pushing with the last couple of stages of his recovery and gets through them without any problem. I think he can do really well down there. He’s a grown man and he’s more than ready for this challenge. I think he’s done the right thing because he’s at that stage in his career. We have to be humble enough to recognise that we have our place and he was ready to move on. He now has the chance to find out how far he can go. That’s why this is the right time for him to move. He’s ready to go down to England and compete at Championship level. Off the back of that, how he deals with it and how he performs, you’ll find out if he can go higher.

“He has earned the right to go down to a club like Cardiff, to compete to play in their team and compete in that league. After that, everyone will find out.”