Livi sign up Scougall on new contract

The 19-year-old has agreed to stay with the Lions until 2016 after becoming one of the club’s brightest prospects since bursting onto the scene last season.

Collins, the former Hibs boss, said: “I’ve worked with a lot of good young footballers and he’s as good, if not better, than  anybody I’ve worked with.

“He is an outstanding talent and he is only going to get better because of his attitude and the way he plays. Every day he trains to get better.

“One thing is for sure and that is the big clubs will come  sniffing around at some point.

“Getting him tied down on a new contract is good news for us, and good news for Stefan because he’s still developing.”

Scougall made his full debut for the Lions last season and he has now firmly established himself in boss John Hughes’ first team. The club’s supporters voted him as their Young Player of the Year recently and he was also named as Young Player of the Year by the club, an award voted for by players and staff.

In a statement released by Livi, Scougall, who as well as playing a creative midfield role as also filled in at left-back this term, said: “I am ambitious and want to play at the highest level. I’ll hopefully help get Livingston back to the SPL, but I hope at some point that a big move happens for me.

“I need to improve certain aspects of my game but the manager and John Collins have been looking at how I can get better and I have been working on that.

“Livingston like to get the ball down and pass and move and that’s why I want to say here and develop my career.

“It’s a good way to play and I’m enjoying the fact that we don’t go back to front and in midfield I see a lot of the ball.”