New Hearts midfielder Bobby Burns has been tipped to reach the top of the game after making his first move into the full-time ranks.
The 18-year-old joined the Gorgie outfit on a three-year deal from Northern Irish side Glenavon in May.
And Lurgan Blues player/manager Gary Hamilton is in no doubt that the talented player’s move across the Irish Sea is just the first step in what will a glittering career.
Burns, who has already trained with the full Northern Ireland squad having picked up an under-21 cap for his country, made the breakthrough with Glenavon at just 15 and Hamilton insists Burns has huge potential.
Hamilton said: “Personally speaking, I think he has the attitude, the desire and the hunger to go right to the top.
“It’s like everything, you need the breaks at the right time and you need to stay injury-free as well – he will be adapting from coming from part-time to full-time.
“I think Hearts have made a really good signing and if he keeps improving with the speed he has done so far, they will potentially make a lot of money off him in the future.
“He will not be afraid of the challenge and be overawed by being at the club, he’s been around our team since 14.
“We’ve got Sammy Clingan, who played for Kilmarnock, and he can’t believe how much of a talent he is.
“He is so intelligent, he was meant to move to Bristol City at 16 but he wanted to do his A-levels and get that behind him.
“If you’re sitting talking to him, it’s like talking to a 30-year-old.”
Hearts manager Levein handed debuts to a string of teenagers last season, including Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald, and Hamilton believes Tynecastle will offer the player the ideal platform for Burns, who can also play at left-back, to progress
He added: “It’s a great move to a club that gives youth a chance and that was the most important thing as there were other clubs interested in him as well.
“For me and Bobby, Hearts was the best option considering their policy of bringing young kids through and giving them a chance.
“You can get a move across the water but your first move has to the right one. You could move to England and get sucked into the under-23 football and that league is not good enough for players of the calibre of Bobby.
“He’ll be playing against men and learning the game quicker.”
