Revealed: The Gorgie life of Hearts teenager Scott McGill

Teenage midfielder Scott McGill is keen to play more for Hearts.

It is the only thing about the club that he isn’t familiar with. This is a proper Jambo in every sense of the word: Grew up in and around Gorgie, supported Hearts all his life, joined the Riccarton youth academy aged eight and is now in the senior side at 18.

As if McGill’s maroon-tinted background isn’t convincing enough, he also hails from the very street where a certain Gary Mackay was raised. Teenagers will often use the cliché ‘living the dream’ after a first-team breakthrough but in this case it is entirely applicable.

As he relaxes, conversation flows and McGill begins to explain what playing for Hearts means to him and his family. The midfielder has made three Betfred Cup appearances under manager Robbie Neilson – the latest at East Fife on Tuesday night – and is understandably elated.

‘Dream come true’

He feels part of the bricks and mortar. “Yes, 100 per cent. I’m a Hearts fan and my family live in Gorgie so to play in the first team is amazing,” he told the Evening News.

"We stay just at the end of Gorgie at the wee pub. I’ve stayed there my whole life. Training is just 15 minutes up the road. It’s just a dream come true.

"I’ve been at Hearts since I was about eight years old. I came all the way up through the academy and played in all the age-groups. To get my chance in the first team now is brilliant.”

Learning curve

The requirements of a first-team midfielder are demanding. Positioning, showing for the ball, retaining possession, tracking midfield runners and game-management are being drilled into him. He willingly takes the advice on board.

At one point during Tuesday’s second half, a message from the Hearts technical area echoed around Bayview: “Tell Scott McGill that’s not good enough.”

Other youngsters may have crumbled but such comments are made to test players’ mettle. This one calmly continued his business.

"You learn about how to manage the game,” said McGill. “We were 2-0 up inside five minutes on Tuesday and you need to manage a situation like that. You have to keep the ball and do the simple stuff.

“I’ve really enjoyed it because it’s been a great experience. I’m playing with really experienced players like Steven Naismith. He is really good with the young boys, helping get them through the game, telling them to keep it simple and not do anything stupid.

"He’s really good to have around and Christophe Berra is another really big influence. I look up to Olly Lee just now. He really helps me in training and during games he talks me through it. He’s been great with me.

"The gaffer has given me the opportunity to start and show what I can do. I want to keep impressing in training and, when he gives me an opportunity to start, I want to prove myself and take it.

"Hopefully I can get more game time during the season. I just keep the ball and try to keep things simple – keep it moving and try to play forward passes.

“Growing up, I always loved playing against Hibs. I’ve always loved the Edinburgh derby, as a player and a fan. It’s the atmosphere which makes it special.”

Neilson’s verdict

Hearts want to develop academy graduates with that same sense of feeling for the place. Knowing the emotion attached to the maroon shirt is important at all levels, but particularly first-team.

One of Neilson’s first decisions when pre-season training began during the summer was to promote McGill to train with the first-team squad. He has since rejected loan offers for the player, although may choose to farm him out in January.

"When I came in I could see Scott was technically a good player with a good attitude. He has done really well,” explained the manager. “He came through the youth system here and I think it's important you have young players about who know what it's like to come through the academy.

"It's so important we have local lads emerging and aspiring to get into the team. Not just for themselves but for the fans and for the academy itself. Scott is a shining light for all of them.

"He's got good athleticism and physicality. I think you could see against East Fife that he's still a kid. He was playing against Aggy [Scott Agnew] the other night and Aggy is 33 – an experienced, lower-level midfielder.

"It was great for Scott to be out there for 90 minutes, having to dig it out at the end, make tackles and things like that. We are using these Betfred games to qualify for the next round but also to get some of these kids an opportunity.”

Why loan didn’t happen

A path taken by established professionals like Berra, Craig Gordon and Jamie Walker is now being followed by the next generation. Patience is key but McGill forced himself into the reckoning.

"I think Scott is still a wee bit away from being a regular with the first team,” said Neilson. “We had the opportunity to send him out on loan in the last transfer window, but we thought it would be better for him to stay with the first team and train every day.

"He is getting a bit of game time here, so we will look at the January window and see if we can put him somewhere he will play every week.

"I know it's Gorgie he's from and he's a great kid. He wants to do well and he's been working hard. He's getting an opportunity now so it's up to him to go and grasp it."

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