Dundee united v Hearts: Holt able to appraise the value of the golden generation that has emerged at Tynecastle this season

Staff Writer
Saturday 9 February 2013

THE reaction of Hearts supporters towards the emergence of the golden generation at city rivals Hibernian will likely have been one of denial; fans found hunched in corners with their hands over their ears as the likes of Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker paraded around Easter Road to a fanfare of hope and expectation.

Yet now their senses are alive to the bright futures ahead of the crop of aspiring young players to emerge at their club.

Constricted by financial issues, John McGlynn's hand was forced as he ushered through talent from Hearts' youth system but any concerns have been mitigated by the assurance with which such as Jason Holt, Callum Tapping, Fraser Mullen, Jamie Walker and Billy King have all settled into the first team. Against Ross County last weekend the Tynecastle side comprised players with an average age of 22½ and they were able to come away with a 2-2 draw.

With the youngsters having all come through the ranks together, there is now a growing hope that there are exciting times ahead. The arrival of Danny Wilson and Michael Ngoo on loan from Liverpool has only added to the belief that the kids will be all right at Tynecastle.

That flush of prodigious youngsters is just a memory for Hibernian, the club having sold off their best talent in exchange for £10m in transfer fees. Holt believes the crop that has emerged at Hearts this season is also capable of earning the club large sums if, and when, they come to be harvested by bigger clubs.

"If you compare, they had a lot of good young players in the Hibs side at that time and we've got a lot of good young boys in our team at the moment," said the midfielder, whose side travel to face Dundee United this afternoon. "Our task right now is to keep playing well and stay in the team and things will happen from there. But the young boys all know John McGlynn [the Hearts manager] has faith in youth and if you're performing in training it's only a matter of time before you get a chance in the Hearts team.

"He's given a lot of young people a chance in the team. It's great to play alongside boys of a similar age. We've all come through the ranks together and we know each other. Hopefully we can keep progressing and get an extended run in the side. We've got a good bond, going back, and we know each other's games inside out."

Such a deep understanding between Jackie McNamara and the United squad will take time to bloom. He was, after all, only appointed as manager at the end of last month. The Tannadice side were able to bond over a 3-0 win against Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup, of course, and the United manager is eager to follow that up with another positive result against Hearts this afternoon.

"It's been a good start and it gives us something to build on going into this game with Hearts," said McNamara. "The lads have all responded well since I came in last week and it's been good to have a full week working closer with them in training each day. This will be a very tough match against Hearts but it's one we should be approaching with confidence.

"There were a lot of positive things to come out of the Rangers game which we want to use to our advantage. We want to try to move up the table as well so it will be very important to start winning more games at Tannadice in front of our own supporters."

McNamara enjoyed prominence at Partick Thistle as he mouled a young team with designs on the Irn-Bru first division title and so he has an appreciation for the work undertaken by McGlynn. "I've got a lot of respect for Hearts and what they're trying to do with the younger players at their club," he said. "They've proved they're a good team by going all the way to the final and you never get it easy against them. They have lots of talented young players who've been given a first-team opportunity this season and have taken it well. So we are facing a tough task but it's one which we are all looking forward to.

"We're in the middle of a spell where there are many big games coming up for the club. It's a challenge we're relishing so it is our job to go out there and try to win as many games as possible and see where we end up."

Taken from the Herald