Michael Stewart names two Hearts signings who are 'absolutely flying' as Jambos and Hibs sent challenge
Hearts and Hibs are amongst the clubs grappling with an issue that is spanning across Scottish football.
Michael Stewart reckons two Hearts signings show there is plenty of talent to be found in Scotland - as the nation braces for a summit on the game’s direction.
The Premiership side have embarked on a data-driven recruitment drive this summer aided by Jamestown Analytics, with Calvin Miller arriving from Falkirk and Josh McPake’s impact since leaving St Johnstone proving value for money early doors, amid debate on Scottish players. SFA chiefs will hold a summit next month with youth development at the heart of their discussion points amid concerns over its trajectory.
Hearts won the Youth Cup last season but captain Alfie Osborne has left for Chelsea and Keir McMeekin has headed for Manchester City. Boyd Fraser has joined Nottingham Forest and ex-midfielder Stewart feels both Hearts and Hibs can position themselves as talent factories for emerging prospects. That could help tempt them away from the lure of big wages on offer at the likes of Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Man City.
What can Hearts and Hibs do to attract top talents?
The pundit formerly of Hearts and Hibs told Sportsound: “There is talent here, the problem is not the lack of talent, there's a lack of opportunities. When you have a lack of opportunities, what happens is you have players hit a glass ceiling, they plateau, and that potential is never realised. The certain degree of sympathy I have with some of the people that are at the bigger clubs is there is a huge amount of pressure that's on them and that demands the here and the now.
“I think the likes of Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen, and I look at these three clubs in particular, and I often think that they're missing a trick with really leaning into being the sort of club that are viewed as where the top young talent should go. They're big clubs, they're always going to attract some quality players, but if you really emphasise it then you will attract.
“A couple of years ago Hibs had the likes of Kevin Nisbet that came to Hibs from Dunfermline, they sold them on for a good sum of money, they had Ryan Porteous that came through and it looked at that period of time when Jack Ross was in charge and Leeann Dempster was behind the scenes, it looked like they were trying to perhaps do that. I think they're being very well run now.
What Hearts talents have left for the Premier League
“Look at Hearts, very much data driven, but look at two guys that have come in in the summer there who I would suggest are two that are absolutely flying and hit the ground running. Josh McPake and Calvin Miller. Now Calvin Miller is a little bit older but the point still remains that I think these big clubs, if you lean into being viewed as the team that the top talent goes to and you give them a chance, then you will get the rewards for it in terms of down the line and selling them.
“The final thing I would say for Hearts in particular, they've lost three players from the youth team that won the Youth Cup last year that have gone down to Nottingham Forest, Man City and Chelsea. They've gone for big sums of money in terms of wages and I hear a lot of people ask how do you compete with that? There is no obvious solution to it but a big thing, and again it's just to emphasise where they really need to lean into this, I think there needs to be bold and brave decision making within the clubs.”
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