HEARTS assistant coach John McGlynn is backing emerging star Andrew Driver to make his mark on the first-team this season.

The 18-year-old has started every one of Hearts' top-team pre-season games and has impressed the club's coaches and supporters alike with his assured displays.

So much so that Driver, a product of the club's youth set-up, may be handed a place against Siroki Brijeg in Wednesday night's Champions League qualifier at Murrayfield.

If he is called into the side to face the Bosnians, McGlynn is certain the youngster will be able to rise to the challenge and won't be overawed by the occasion.

"Andrew has started every single game that we have played in our pre-season campaign and he's done really well," he said.

"It's been really good experience for him, he's played in Austria, against Preston and again on Wednesday night against Osasuna and he hasn't looked out of place at all.

"What's been really pleasing about Andrew is that he has shown real consistency in those games. He's just a young lad, only 18, but he's done really well to come into the team the way he has and he's been very positive in his play, in fact he was unlucky not to get a couple of goals against Osasuna.

"I also think that, physically, he has become a lot stronger in the last few months.

"With Neil McCann coming back into contention for a place, it means that there is a bit of competition and that can only be good for the players and for the team as well.

"Andrew's a product of the youth set-up at the club and we're pleased with the way he is developing. He could come into our thinking for the Champions League game, there's definitely a chance of that.

"He'll be hoping that if he continues to work hard he can push his way into the first team and he's certainly not done himself any harm recently.

"We'll assess the situation nearer the time and he'll have a fair idea by Tuesday as to whether he'll play against Siroki or not."

Tickets for Wednesday night's Champions League qualifier are on sale from the Tynecastle ticket office or online at www.heartsfc.co.uk.

Prices start at £12 for adults and £5 for concessions with a limit of four tickets per supporter.

The match against the Bosnians kicks off at Murrayfield at 7.45pm and will be screened live on BBC Scotland.

Taken from the Scotsman