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.
He has also trained with Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham and is on Chelsea’s radar, while Hearts, Dundee United are thought to be admirers of the player – albeit SPFL clubs are likely to be priced out of a move for the forward.
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.”
