Rugby: Get Rory Hutton signed up or watch him fly ..

Gerry McGuinness, capped seven times by Scotland from 1982-85, has watched the progress of Hutton from even before he coached him in a Hawick Wanderers side which captured the Scottish Youth title in 2005.

And McGuinness is convinced Hutton has a big future which, ideally, should be based north of the border especially after he set up tries for Ross Rennie and Jim Thompson in a Magners Celtic League debut against Cardiff on Saturday that was full of rich promise.

Said ex-prop forward McGuinness, now coaching the Hawick senior team in Premiership Division Two: "I wasn't surprised to see Rory doing so well against Cardiff because, from when he first came on the scene, he has had an ability to beat an opponent in the smallest space.

"Within reason you can get a stand off who can kick and get you into position. But a stand off who can beat people and get you into position is special.

"The value of that type of player has been seen at Ospreys this season where James Hook, who has been outstanding, (with Wales and the Lions) found his place coming under threat from Dan Biggar.

"Now it is Hook who has had to be moved to centre."

Interestingly, another Edinburgh stand off, Phil Godman, has played centre for Newcastle Falcons although it is very early days for Hutton and Scotland's current No.1 is more than entitled to be allowed to defend a place in the face of the challenge from the young pretender.

Nevertheless, could a Hutton-Godman midfield axis prove particularly creative in future?

McGuinness added: "Rory's ability to lead an attack has a lot to do with the time he has spent playing seven-a-sides. And while he has given teams I've coached the odd hairy moment through his desire to beat not just the first marker but a second as well, on nine occasions out of 10 this approach seems to pay off.

"The way he slipped his marker to set up a try for a flanker (Ross Rennie) was typical Rory and the time has never been better to give him a contract with Dan Parks leaving for Cardiff at the end of this season."

With Hutton having moved to Heriot's when Hawick were relegated the Capital link is one Edinburgh fans will be keen to see cemented.

McGuinness has warned that Hutton is bound to have been on the radar of English outfits even before hitting the Celtic League.

"Steve Bates (Newcastle's coach) is bound to have known about Rory from his time coaching Borders and he would get a reminder when Edinburgh went down to play a pre-season friendly on Tyneside," said McGuinness.

Hutton appeared that night only for a knee injury sustained in Heriot's second match to rule him out for a couple of months.

McGuinness added: "One of the big difficulties for Scottish rugby is how to accommodate youngsters coming through.

"You might not feel confident in having untried players taking on responsibility at Celtic League level every week but they have got to be given a chance.

"Alternatively English National One (second division) is now establishing a professional set-up and at Hawick we have been in consultation with teams such as Coventry.

"There was talk of our scrum half, Greig Goodfellow, spending time with both ourselves and Coventry while talks have been held with Newcastle regarding player-exchanges." Falcons have scouts operating in the Borders and two recent signings from Kelso, centre Michael Tait and prop Grant Shiels, have both tasted senior action since enlisting at Kingston Park as teenagers last summer.

So, the message is clear for Murrayfield chiefs regarding a player who has come through the national academy set-up but only found his way into Edinburgh's latest line-up via Heriot's with the ultra committed Godman slightly battle-weary and Dave Blair currently injured.

They must act now or face the prospect of watching from afar as Hutton blossoms.