Adam Forrester has signed a new Hearts contract after his first-team breakthrough.
The defender, 19, has been thrust into the top team this campaign after an injury to right-back Gerald Taylor and has not looked overawed, impressing in all of his appearances.
Forrester was B team captain and was promoted when their manager Liam Fox was in charge temporarily, with new boss Neil Critchley then keeping him around.
Forrester is a marauding right-back, who can also play at centre half, and has played five times in the Premiership and three in the Conference League this season.
Neil Critchley reacts to Forrester’s Hearts deal
Critchley is renowned for developing young talent after building a strong reputation working in the Liverpool academy and managing their youth teams.
It is believed to be one of the things that made him attractive to Hearts and his appointment was seen as a good thing for the likes of Forrester, Macaulay Tait and James Wilson.
He has proved his commitment to having youngsters involved by having Forrester share the right-back role with Daniel Oyegoke and giving minutes to Wilson.
The Englishman has credited the clubs’ academy staff, in particular Fox, for helping the defender get to this point.
Critchley told the Hearts website: “Adam has progressed excellently this season and we are pleased to have rewarded his development with this contract extension.
“We’ve got an exciting crop of youth who show all the qualities required to make it into the first team environment.
“Credit has to go to the club’s Academy coaching staff who helped nurture Adam’s development and, of course, to Liam Fox for bringing him into the first team fold.
“I’m very happy he’s signed this extension and I look forward to working with him over the coming weeks and months as his development continues.”
Forrester deserves new Hearts deal
Forrester has not looked out of place at any point of his fledging Hearts career, showing up well in all matches.
Perhaps his best night was during the win over Omonia Nicosia in the Conference League, turning in a performance belying his tender age and showing he won’t be fazed by the big stage.
The long-term injury to Gerald Taylor could have been a real issue but the 19-year-old has ensured that it has not been and there are no fears about allowing him to continue in that role along with Oyegoke.
It may mean the club doesn’t need to worry about that position in January and can instead focus on pressing matters further up the pitch.