Hearts’ Edinburgh derby hero James Wilson aims to prove he made the right decision in snubbing offers to leave Tynecastle.
The 17-year-old forward, who signed a new two-year deal last April amid interest from clubs including the Old Firm and Manchester United, came off the bench at Easter Road on Sunday to salvage a point with his second goal in consecutive appearances.
Wilson made his Hearts debut in January and has now made six substitute appearances, scoring in the last two.
“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 new boss Neil Critchley said on Sunday 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 scored 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.”
