Jamie Walker extends Hearts contract until 2018

Jamie Walker is highly-rated at Tynecastle

The winger, 22, joins team-mates Igor Rossi and Arnaud Djoum, who recently pledged their futures to the club.

Injury has restricted Walker to just 13 appearanaces this term, his last coming in the League Cup defeat by Celtic on October 28.

Head coach Robbie Neilson told Hearts News: “I’m pleased to get Jamie signed up. He’s a Hearts Football Academy graduate, and we’ve got a few more guys too who we’d like to get signed up as we think that they deserve it and they’ve done well this season.

“It works well for both parties. Jamie’s a big prospect at the club, played a lot of games and there’s been interest in him over the years. To get him tied up gives us security but it also gives Jamie security as well, to go and progress and concentrate on his football.

“This season has been a bit stop-start for Jamie. Last season, he played very well for us and won us a lot of games. He’s a big part of the team and was at the start of the season.

“He’s had a couple of little niggling injuries recently, which have hindered him, but we expect him to make a full recovery and add value to the team.”

Walker has made 105 first-team appearances in total for Hearts, scoring 18 goals.