Robbie Neilson: Jamie Walker is one of the best talents produced by Hearts academy

Robbie Neilson reckons Jamie Walker is one of the best players produced by Hearts. Picture: SNS

The 27-year-old produced moments of magic last weekend at Cappielow, netting a double in the 2-0 win over Greenock Morton to lift the team to the top of the Scottish Championship.

Goal one was either a scuffed shot which found the net via the turf or a measured effort. But there was no doubting the quality of the second goal, collecting a pass from Andy Irving expertly, he burrowed his way into the box and found the bottom corner.

The brace took Walker to 47 goals for the club and just three short of 50 for Hearts.

It was a feat last achieved by Colin Cameron and he will likely reach the club in the coming weeks.

Walker would join some venerated company, which includes Willie Bauld, John Robertson, Jimmy Wardhaugh, Drew Busby and his great-uncle, the great Tommy Walker.

In terms of comparisons to his more contemporary peers, manager Robbie Neilson reckons the forward is one of the very best to emerge at the club.

“He's a very, very good player, a top player,” he said.

"Probably one of the best players this academy has produced technically and goalscoring wise.

“[I’m] delighted for him and delighted to get him back fit.”

Walker has had his injury issues the past few seasons and it is something which Neilson understands.

Expectations of the player have to be tempered when he returns from being out injured or dealing with niggles.

“He did well,” Neilson said of Walker’s Morton performance.

“I've known Jamie for a long time. He was here before. He is one of those boys who needs games to get himself up and running. He's not a guy who can just train and all of a sudden come in.

"I think he needs three, four, five games to get going. He had that at the start of the season, with the pre-season games and the Betfred [Cup] and was flying.

"He had a wee niggle and had to come out and then it's just building him back in again.”