James Wilson determined to prove he was right to snub offers at stay at Hearts

James Wilson is determined to prove there was merit in snubbing other offers to remain with boyhood club Hearts last year after the 17-year-old scored his second goal in consecutive appearances in Sunday’s Edinburgh derby draw against Hibernian.

The highly-regarded striker had the opportunity to move elsewhere amid interest from Rangers, Celtic, Manchester United and Leeds, but chose to sign a new two-year contract with the Jambos in April 2023.

Wilson made his debut in a Scottish Cup tie against Spartans in January and has gone on to make six sub appearances, scoring in the last two of those outings against St Mirren and Hibs.

“Ultimately the reason I stayed was because I wanted to play first-team football,” he said. “It’s a choice that not a lot of people make.

“I’m just hoping to prove there is the other option here where you stay, you fight for your place, and you try and have an impact.

“Ultimately, if I went down south, I don’t know where I’d be at the moment. I could be playing under-18 football down there, so I’m just trying to prove there’s another option.”

Wilson’s deal expires next summer but recently-appointed boss Neil Critchley said on Sunday that a new contract for the teenager “has been mentioned” and is “on the radar of the people around me at the club”.

Asked whether he expected to remain at Tynecastle beyond the end of this season, Wilson said: “Yeah, I hope to. I hope to keep playing well. Whatever happens, happens. I’m just working hard every day, trying to do what I can do.”

Wilson equalised from close range in the 87th minute of Sunday’s derby at the end of Easter Road housing almost 4000 Hearts supporters.

“You dream of that,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to do the night before. I wanted to come on and score, score a better goal than that, but no, I wanted to score. It was brilliant.”

Wilson notched his first goal in the closing stages of the 4-0 victory over St Mirren in Critchley’s first match in charge before his big moment in Sunday’s derby.

“As a young player, you’re never quite sure when a new manager comes in, but he’s been very good to me,” he said.

“The manager just tells me to keep going, keep working hard. He wants me to just have an impact on the game when I come on. He was happy last week with the goal, and then the same message against Hibs, go on and try and get an equaliser, and I did that.

“It’s been an important week for me. People tell you that in football, it’s going to change quite quickly. Getting the two goals, it’s just come at me quite quickly.”