BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
One of Scottish football’s hottest prospects, Matthew Knox, insists he is in no rush to leave Livingston following a trial with English giants Manchester United.
Knox, who made his Livi debut against St Mirren on Boxing Day just four days after turning 16, spent a week at the Red Devil’s Carrington training complex in January.
However, Knox – whose debut saw him usurp Leigh Grifiths as Livi’s youngest ever debutant – insists he is simply lapping up being part of the first team squad at Almondvale as scouts continue to circle.
Knox told BBC Alba: “It’s really good that so much interest is being shown in me at such a young age from big clubs, but my focus is to get more first-team games at Livingston.
“I’m enjoying playing at Livingston and getting that experience of the senior set-up at such a young age. I’m experiencing the bigger crowds, the stadiums and it’s a good learning curve.”
Meanwhile, Livi boss David Hopkin has vowed not to rush the youngster, despite a clamour among some fans to see the talented teenager in action.
Sensation
Hopkin said: “Matthew has already done a pre-season with us and he is a kid with a great future ahead of him. He is level-headed and has already been at a lot of very big clubs on trial.
“There is an awful lot of interest in him, but we’ve got to be careful – he is still at school. For him to jump straight from under-17s to first-team is a massive step.
“He’ll come through, but we are not just going to throw him right in at the deep end and say he’ll be a sensation. Hopefully be the time he is 17 or 18, whether it is here or elsewhere, Matthew will be playing first-team football.”
