Jason Holt: Joy at scoring first Hearts goal was ruined by St Johnstone win

Mar 28 2012 by Alan Marshall

HEARTS starlet Jason Holt admits the joy at scoring his first goal in maroon was ruined by losing to St Johnstone.

The 19-year-old was handed his first start by Paulo Sergio on Saturday and proceeded to turn in a display that justified much of the hype surrounding the midfielder.

The teenager made his mark in 29 minutes when he opened the scoring by firing first time into the bottom corner from 12 yards following an excellent late run into the box.

However, Steve Lomas’s Saints side proved too strong for an inexperienced Hearts line-up, with the home team eventually running out 2-1 winners.

And the result took the gloss off a memorable day for Holt.

He said: “Obviously I was delighted to get my first start for the club and to get a goal made it extra special.

“But it was a disappointing result and that puts a bit of a dampener on it for me.

“I came on as a sub against Dundee United last May so I’ve waited quite a while for this chance.

“I’ve been patient and worked hard and I think I performed quite well when I finally got my opportunity.

“We shaped up in training on Friday and I thought I might be starting but you are never sure until the manager tells you on the Saturday.

“The manager just told me to do what I had been doing in training and that I would be fine. Getting the goal was a bonus but I’d have been happier if we had picked up a result.”

Holt is perhaps the most highly rated of the club’s youngsters despite the fact he has made his first senior start after the likes of Fraser Mullen and Scott Robinson.

A Scotland Under-21 call-up earlier this season is testament to the regard in which the player is held.

SFA performance director Mark Wotte is among the teenager’s high-profile admirers with the Dutchman previously pleading for Holt to get more first-team game time.

After the Saints game, Wotte tweeted: “Finally Jason Holt got his chance and well done on a great goal.

“One of the promising Scotland Under-19 players this year. Delighted for him.”

The gifted playmaker was joined in the Jambos’ starting line-up at the weekend by fellow academy products Robinson, Jamie MacDonald, Ryan McGowan and Gary Glen.

And Holt is delighted to be part of the Jambos’ brat pack.

He said: “I was in the middle of the park with Scott Robinson which made it a bit easier for me.

“At the goal Scott played it out to Gowser (Ryan McGowan), he got the ball into the box and I scored the goal from there. It was good to see the three of us linking up.

Taken from the Daily Record