David Templeton plays down form after latest prize

IF it had been up to David Templeton, the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month award for December would probably have found a different home. It was not that the Hearts winger was ungrateful for the award, which he received yesterday, it is just that he does not think he played nearly as well last month as he did in November, when he won the same trophy.

It would certainly have been hard for Templeton to make the impact over the festive period that he did in the previous month, when he kicked off an excellent run of form with an inspired solo goal in the Edinburgh derby.

But while he may have gone off the boil towards the end of the year, it was arguably a sign of his growing maturity that he made a difference for Hearts even when struggling to become involved in the game.

Against St Mirren just before the end of the year, for example, he was on the verge of being substituted by Jim Jefferies when he embarked on another run into the box. Seconds later, with the help of a fortunate ricochet, he had scored the opening goal. He also earned the penalty which wrapped up the points for his team and extended their league run to seven wins and a draw from eight games.

Still, being a scrupulously frank critic of his own games, Templeton preferred to dwell on his shortcomings when presented with his award yesterday. "There were only a couple of games last month and I was actually quite surprised to win this, to be honest, because against St Mirren I didn't have my best game," he said. "I did well in the first 20 minutes but in the first hour I was terrible. I played quite well against Aberdeen and Inverness, but I wasn't expecting to get it because of the St Mirren game." Templeton's form should not be judged in isolation. Over the past few months he has become a marked man, with opposing teams often singling him out as a threat. If that has at times made games harder for him, it has also helped ease the pressure on some of his team-mates.

"I'd like to play that well all the time," he said when reminded of his starring role in Hearts' 2-0 win at Easter Road in November. "But sometimes teams double up against you and make it difficult, and I've got to find a way to play against that to try to keep being consistent. I have noticed it on a couple of occasions, teams doubling up on me, and if it's going to keep happening I need to find a way to play against it.

"I'm quite surprised how well I'm doing, but I knew I was capable of it if given the chance. I was injured a lot last season and had to wait for my chance, but when I got it I took it towards the end of the last campaign. I did quite well then, and again in the pre-season, which is the form that probably led to me staying in the team."That form has brought him to the attention of a lot of other clubs, but at 22 he is content to continue his development at Tynecastle for the foreseeable future. "I'm really happy here. I'm still quite young and have played almost every game this season, so I'm happy to keep learning here from the gaffer and (assistant manager] Billy Brown, who have taught me a lot.

"If in a couple of years something came up it would be good to go to the Premier League, for example, which is where everyone wants to play. I'm happy to keep learning here for now.

"It's all about learning and I've still got a lot to learn here. The more I can learn here the better. Maybe in a few years I could get to go down there, but if not I'm happy to stay here."

If the winger keeps up his good form, his full international debut is likely to be a lot less than a few years away. He has already represented Scotland at under-21 level, and the fact he has been praised by national manager Craig Levein suggests a call-up to the senior squad may not be too far away. Again, though, he appears content to concentrate on doing his best at club level.

"Obviously it would be great to be called up for the national team, but if I don't I'm not too bothered just now because I'm still young and trying to concentrate on games with Hearts. If it doesn't happen now then hopefully it can in the future. Of course it would be great to be called up and it would do wonders for my confidence, but if not I'm happy to just focus on playing well for Hearts.

"I've got to keep playing well and if it happens, it happens. If not, I'm not too fussed."