Neil Critchley believes James Wilson exemplifies the best type of person the Hearts academy can produce after the teenage striker was called up by Scotland.
Steve Clarke picked the player in his squad for the upcoming Nations League play-off against Greece, just days after Wilson’s 18th birthday.
Hearts head coach Critchley revealed that he had been the person who got to tell the young forward that he had been called up to the senior squad for the first time. He hopes Wilson will grab the opportunity with both hands and show Clarke and others what he can do.
“It’s a special moment, isn’t it?” Critchley said.
“I found out on the morning of the announcement. Graeme Jones had been notified and let me know.
“I pulled James after a team meeting to tell him and he was obviously taken aback by the news. I don’t think he was expecting it, he was quite surprised and you could see the excitement in his eyes.
“I think he was a little bit overwhelmed. You could see what it meant to him.
“It was a really special moment. It’s fantastic for him and his family, for the academy and the football club.
“Let’s just hope he goes there and does well and if the opportunity comes along, I hope he takes it.”
Critchley has made Wilson a key part of his team since he took charge last October and he said he’s been impressed by the teenager’s character as well as his talent on the pitch. He believes it sets the right example for other young players and shows what they can achieve.
“There’s a lot of people here who have known James for a lot longer than I have,” he said. “So the academy and all the staff should be immensely proud not just of the player he is but the person as well.
“He typifies the sort of person you want to produce at your academy and him and some of the boys in the Under-21 squad should serve as a great motivation for all the players in our academy because not so long ago they were probably in the same dressing room.
“If it can happen to them, it can happen to others.”
Wilson was not the only Hearts player to be called up by Clarke, but Craig Gordon’s selection was notable at the other end of the scale. The 41-year-old’s international career looked to be over when he missed Euro 2024 but he seems to have regained his place as Scotland’s number one.
“It’s just as much an achievement for Craig as it is for James, and at least James will have someone to look after him, which is nice,” Critchley said.
“They’re important games, big games coming up for Scotland and I know what it’ll mean to Craig if he still is the number one.
“He’s been fantastic. His performances this season have been top, so both players deserve to be in the squad and I’ll sure be watching the games now with great interest.”
While Wilson and Gordon enjoyed their call-ups, there was disappointment for Lawrence Shankland, who has been a squad regular but did not make the cut this time. Critchley backed him to show his best form and regain his place at the top level.
“Shanks is a super professional, he’s a great guy and naturally you’d be disappointed. I’d expect him to be,” Critchley said.
“But I know he’s fully focused on having a good end of the season here for us. He’s out there doing extra today as he always does with his finishing – with Jamesy – and he’s just a humble down-to-earth guy which is why he’s a captain.
“I know he’ll be concentrating on performing his best for us starting with the game tomorrow, between now and the end of the season, and if that happens, then I’m sure at some point he’ll be back in international contention.”
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