Ryan Stevenson admits Hearts starlet James Wilson is the ‘complete opposite’ to what the former midfielder was like at Chelsea.
Wilson is in the midst of his breakthrough season at Tynecastle and is proving to be a player with serious potential.
Still a schoolboy, Wilson made headlines in October when he scored in two consecutive Premiership games, the latter being the small matter of an Edinburgh derby against Hibs.
He notched a late equaliser in that game to earn Hearts a vital point and from that moment on, his life has changed forever.
Wilson’s burgeoning success continued as he went on to become the youngest ever scorer in the Europa Conference League with his goal against Petrocub.
At just 17, the forward – who earned recent praise from Steven Naismith – is now a regular starter under boss Neil Critchley and Stevenson admits he’s been thoroughly impressed.
Ryan Stevenson’s eulogy for Hearts wonderkid James Wilson
Stevenson has labelled Wilson ‘fearless’ and his breakthrough has reminded the 40-year-old of his own teenage years at Chelsea where between 1998 and 2002, he was the exact opposite.
Writing in his Daily Record column, Stevenson wrote: “Fearless. That’s what I like most about watching James Wilson’s emergence at Hearts at the age of just 17.
“The schoolboy wonder has obviously got bags of ability but it’s his attitude during a difficult season which has really impressed me.
“With 17 first team appearances and five goals under his belt – including in Europe and an Edinburgh derby – he looks like he is living the dream.
“Don’t forget, for some, the pressure at Tynecastle during a really difficult start to the campaign would have been the thing of nightmares.
“But Wilson can go on to be a huge asset for Hearts and carve out a great career for himself if he continues to train like his life depends on it – and play with the freedom of someone who hasn’t a care in the world.
“It’s something that I always look at because I was the complete opposite at his age. I was in my final year at Chelsea but I felt anxious and completely out my depth.
“We would train with the first team most days and I would do crossing and finishing every day for goalkeeper Mark Bosnich. He used to be a psychopath. I was s***ing myself in case I made a mess of it.
“I thought every day I had to be perfect. But then I played with boys who would make mistakes and they didn’t really care. I came through with Carlton Cole. He could miss an open goal back then and it wouldn’t affect him one bit.
“It was about having the ability to forget a mistake instantly and not let it play on your mind. So when I see young boys like James Wilson coming through that are able to deal with that, I think kudos to them.”
Wilson has ‘real big future’
Wilson started alongside loan striker Elton Kabangu as Hearts edged Kilmarnock in a 3-2 thriller at Tynecastle.
The youngster set up the opening goal for Kabangu – which Derek McInnes was fuming over – and was a constant threat for the Killie defence throughout.
Stevenson enjoyed his performance and delivered some crucial advice for Wilson as career continues to progress at pace.
“If he keeps progressing then he has a real big future”, Stevenson continued.
“It’s always hard with these young kids because it can ebb and flow. He could come back in for pre-season and maybe it just doesn’t happen for him.
“But he is surrounded by good professionals at Hearts and just needs to make sure he’s training harder than anybody else to become stronger, fitter, faster.
“I liked how he looked alongside Elton Kabangu at the weekend. They were a real handful for Kilmarnock on Saturday.”