Neilson tells youngsters: Go on loan and secure future here

ROBBIE NEILSON has urged the up-and-coming players at Hearts to follow in his footsteps and use going out on loan as a way of securing their future at the club.

With the Jambos' first team-squad among the largest in the country assistant coach John McGlynn revealed in the Evening News recently that several of his side's young stars may be loaned out next term to get top-team action.

The likes of Lee Wallace, Calum Elliot, Christophe Berra, Andrew Driver and Jamie Mole could fall into that category depending on who is recruited over the summer as the Gorgie side bids to qualify for the highly lucrative group stages of the Champions League.

Neilson spent five months on loan at Queen of the South back in the 2002/03 season at a time when it looked as though his spell at Tynecastle could be coming to an end. However, after playing regularly for the Doonhamers he returned to Hearts where he has gone on to establish himself as the club's first choice right back and is now the longest serving player at the club.

And while the defender admitted that any young player asked to go out on loan could be disappointed at the prospect of missing out on such an exciting campaign he urged them to view it as a step forward and not back.

"The size of squad that Hearts have now it's going to be more and more difficult for the younger guys to get first team football," said Scotland Future cap Neilson.

"They have to try and take every opportunity that they get. and there's no point in playing reserve team football all the time at 21 and 22 because you won't improve.

"You really need to be playing competitive games and if that means dropping down the divisions for a short period then so be it. It's more physical and more demanding than reserve team football and when you're young that's exactly what you need.

"Hopefully the young guys that John (McGlynn) was talking about will realise this and will view any loan deal as an opportunity rather than a step down.

"It can stall your development and you can go a wee bit stale if you know you aren't going to get a look-in for the first team. It can be hard to get yourself up for games that don't mean a great deal and that's another reason why going on loan can be good."

Of course not all loan spells end happily with striker Graham Weir being allowed to quit the Jambos after his own spell at Palmerston Park last season.

Weir, who will always be remembered for his two late goals against Hibs that sealed an unlikely point for Hearts in a 4-4 draw in January 2003, ended up signing on with the First Division outfit full-time.

And promising midfielder Neil Janczyk, now at St Johnstone, also failed to make the grade with the Jambos after a spell with Alloa failed to convince his Tynecastle bosses to offer him a new deal.

Neilson, however, revealed that he never contemplated that his Hearts career could be over when he agreed to step down a division and believes that as long as the right club is chosen there can be immeasurable benefits for young players.

"I'd spoken to the manager before I left who felt it would benefit me to be playing a bit more first team football," said the full-back who turns 26 two weeks today. "It was always my aim to come back to Hearts when my deal down there ran out and thankfully when I did I was able to get back into the team and things have worked out for me.

"I had been playing mostly reserve team football at Hearts so although I was dropping down the divisions it was still a step up from what I was used to.

"It helped my with my fitness levels as well and I was lucky enough that they had a good squad of players down there that really helped me to progress.

"There were guys like Derek Anderson and Andy Goram in the squad, both guys that had played at a higher level during their career, and I was able to learn a fair bit from them.

"There was a really good spirit down there and I really enjoyed being part of a first team squad again and playing regularly week in, week out.

"For me, it really kick-started my career with Hearts. I suppose I was quite lucky when I came back because we didn't have a great deal of competition in my position when I came back which meant I was given a run in the team.

"Thankfully I was able to take that and have stayed there. That's really the key for any young player. You need to take the chance when it comes along.

"If you are willing to work hard and the games under your belt it could just be the start of things for them at Hearts."

Taken from the Scotsman