Hearts kid Angus Beith wins League One player of month award

Angus Beith scored five goals in four matches for Stranraer in January

Beith, on loan from the Jambos, blasted five goals in four matches last month to haul the Stair Park side back into the play-off picture – including the winner against table-toppers Raith Rovers.

And that made him the runaway winner of the Ladbrokes League One player of the month award for January.

Lafferty, who is top scorer at Tynecastle with 12 goals, was so impressed with his Gorgie team-mate that he Tweeted him. Lafferty said: “Stop it mate. Gonna need to name a stand after you if you don’t stop scoring.”

And that was a massive boost for the 21-year-old midfielder, who is trying to win a new contract with Craig Levein’s side as his current deal expires in the summer.

Beith said: “Laff has been following me. He was watching how I was doing when he had that suspension so it was nice to get a Tweet from him.

“He’s a really good guy and he’s always looking out for the younger boys which is great.

“For a senior and influential player to take the time to do that is really good, but it’s very much like that at Hearts where the senior pros take a real interest in the younger ones.

“Don Cowie and Aaron Hughes are the same. They have so much experience.

“It’s been a great time for me at Stranraer, especially in January when I scored five goals.

“It was an important time for the club because we had been in a bit of a dip and lost a few players so it was good to help the team win a few games.

“I haven’t really been a goalscorer since I was at under-14 level. Since then I have been more of a central, defensive midfielder.

“However, I always knew that it was something that was there and the manager (Stevie Farrell) has seen something in me to put me in a more attacking area and I’m delighted how it’s going.

“I’m not sure what the plans are (at Hearts) for next season. I have not been given any clarity on that yet.

“The coaches keep an eye on how the loan players are doing. Liam Fox and Jon Daly have been in touch with me and they have seen that I’m doing well.

“If I could stay at Tynecastle that would be my number one choice so I just need to keep my head down and hopefully things will work out.”