Hearts seek loan deals for young stars

HEARTS will arrange loan deals for some of their emerging young players before the start of next season in order to properly prepare them for the rigours of SPL football.

Teenagers like Gordon Smith and Scott Robinson will be advised by senior coaching staff to augment their development with a spell in Scotland's lower divisions before returning to Tynecastle to challenge for a first-team place.

Manager Jim Jefferies is keen to nurture the club's collection of talented youths carefully and believes experiencing top-level football on loan can be invaluable to players' progress.

"A lot of these young lads have been put in a situation because of injuries. They've done well in the first team but they are all ones for the future," said Jefferies. "The right career path for them will be one of the responsibilities I'll have.

"One or two are not ready yet. Of the younger players who had to be called upon this year, I'd be doing one or two a favour by letting them go out and get a loan spell with regular football and get them toughened up a wee bit. They are just that wee bit short yet for the Premier League.

"Garry Kenneth at Dundee United did it, Paul McGowan at Celtic did it by going to Hamilton and is now a regular there having signed a new contract."

Hearts have released 19-year-old striker Ryan Wallace, who made two first-team appearances this season.