Hearts: Jefferies full of praise for teenage duo

The 18-year-olds appeared as substitutes during the closing stages of the season-ending 2-1 defeat to Dundee United. They looked composed on their first SPL assignment as a Gary Glen goal was rendered academic by strikes from United's David Goodwillie and Jon Daly.

Jonathan Stewart, Colin Hamilton and Robert Ogleby - also products of the Riccarton youth academy - were on the substitutes' bench on a day when Hearts showcased a plethora of home-grown talent.

"We said we would give some boys a chance who have been patient or hanging about on the bench," explained Jefferies. "Ian Black would have had a three-match suspension if he'd been booked. Rudi Skacel and Marius Zaliukas were injured. There were a lot of players out but these boys did us proud, I've got to say.

"They went out there with a freedom and tried to play. It was great we had several of our under-19s, who have had a fantastic season, on the bench. I would like to have given another one a run but Andrew Driver got injured too early in the game.

"That only let us bring on a couple of them but the two of them will remember that day. They can use that as a positive to want more. We spend a lot of time and effort on our youth academy. It's down to a lot of hard work by people behind the scenes who raise funds for these boys to have the facilities they have."

Driver suffered what looked like a groin injury and had to be replaced by Jason Thomson after 21 minutes.