Hearts receive two offers for teenage goalkeeper Harry Stone

Teenage Hearts goalkeeper Harry Stone is a wanted man. Pic: David Mollison.

Offers have been received by management at Riccarton and will be given due consideration over the coming weeks. The teams in question want 19-year-old Stone on loan for the entire 2021/22 campaign.

Hearts rate him highly and want him to play regular first-team football next term rather than sit in reserve behind their senior keepers, Craig Gordon and Ross Stewart.

They expect to loan him out at some point but the early Championship interest confirms Stone’s growing reputation. He played on loan at Stirling Albion and Spartans this season before finishing the campaign at Albion Rovers.

“Harry has been doing really well at Albion Rovers. The plan is for him to come back and train during pre-season,” manager Robbie Neilson told the Evening News. “We've already had two Championship teams asking to take him on a season-long loan next year.

"We will assess that and make a decision. I think it's really important, given the age he's at, that he gets out and plays games and gets that experience under his belt. Harry trains with the first team every day and works well with the other keepers and our goalie coach, Paul Gallacher.”

Stone played 13 times for Albion in League Two between March 20 and May 1 this year. He made a huge impression on everyone at the Coatbridge club, not least manager Brian Reid.

Speaking last month after watching Stone in action for his team, Reid extolled the youngster’s credentials.

“Harry has huge potential and we were delighted that Hearts allowed him to join us,” he said. “Hearts think very highly of him and he’s been excellent for us since arriving.

“He’s got a good presence, good size, he’s athletic, he comes for the ball and he’s a good communicator. He’s got everything to go to the very top but there are still things that he needs to learn.

“He will gain that with experience. He’s a good shot-stopper, kicks well and I can see a really bright future for the boy.”

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