Hearts teenager James Wilson has kept a cool head when those around him have lost theirs.
And the talented striker has vowed to continue to keep taking everything in his stride at the tender age of 17 ahead of today’s visit of Hibs. The Scotland Under-19 international has started the last two games as the Gorgie side drew with Petrocub in the Conference League and beat St Johnstone on Sunday to climb off the Premiership basement.
After hitting the net last Thursday against the Moldovans, he then had a fine effort chalked off for offside against Saints. Sandwiched in-between those two games Hearts also announced a contract extension until 2026 for the sought-after marksman. He will now look to follow up his derby heroics today after netting a late equaliser in October’s 1-1 draw at Easter Road. And despite the tense atmosphere surrounding Hearts with the fans on edge amid the battle at the wrong end of the table, Wilson has risen to the occasion.
He said: “With the tough times you get the opportunity I guess. Naturally, if other people aren’t performing, you get the opportunity and when you’re there, you just have to take it.
“That’s all I’m thinking about when I’m on the pitch, playing as well as I can, having an impact in the game and seeing where it takes me. I think in football, games come quite quickly. I think that’s what you have to do, take everything in your stride.
“It’s another day, another game. You just have to be ready. It’s been a good period, an enjoyable period.”
Hearts fought off interest from English football’s big guns to tie down Wilson on a new deal back in April 2023 and he triggered an appearance-related extension last week. Liverpool and Manchester United as well as both Celtic and Rangers have all previously been credited with an interest in the forward.
And given the first team exposure he has had this term, Wilson believes he was right to remain at Tynecastle. He added: “It was the same contract that I’d signed when I was younger, but it was just the extension had been triggered.
“I was buzzing. It was nice to just have that clarity for next season. You want to play here, that was the aim for me – to come and play first-team football, play first-team minutes instead of playing academy minutes down somewhere else in England maybe.
“It’s happening for me now. Hopefully I can stay in the team and keep doing well, but it’s going well. I’m just trying to take it each game. Work hard, work well, work hard to do well, and then see where it takes me, I guess.”
Wilson showed his predatory instincts to capitalise from close range Hearts last time faced Hibs and would love to emulate that with another today. He added: “I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it and hopefully we can get another win.
“We need it. Hopefully another goal for me too. That was so good. It was an important goal at the time, but seeing the fans’ reaction after it, that was nice. Will I be able to sleep before the derby? I sleep pretty well, I’ll be all right and I’m looking forward to it.”
Wilson is not short of mentors at Hearts, at one end of the pitch he has 41-year-old Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will up front he partners Lawrence Shankland. He added: “I speak to them all the time in training and games. They give me little pointers, even little things about how to use my body. Those little things make a big difference in a game. They’re great to learn from.”