Hearts Boss Robbie Neilson Tips Defender Jordan McGhee For Big Things
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson believes Jordan McGhee can develop into a central defender for the Gorgie club - but claims his size will determine whether he can do the same in England.
The 19-year-old is over 6ft tall and helped Hearts to a 1-0 win at Dundee United last week at right-back, where he has played most of his first-team football.
With Callum Paterson back from suspension, McGhee is not assured of keeping his place for the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Ross County on Saturday, but the teenager is eager to get regular football and is sure he can play at centre-back.
I got brought up there playing as a youngster through the club youth ranks,'' the Scotland Under-21 international said.
I have played about three games at centre-back in three years in the first team.
It's not great for my development but obviously playing other positions in the first team is really good. The next stage is to play centre-back and hold down a position there.
I don't see why not. I feel as if I'm good enough, I feel strong enough, mentally strong enough and confident in my own ability.
I just need to bide my time and I'm sure I'll take my chance when it comes.
The other week I played against probably an £8million striker who is arguably twice the size of most strikers in Scotland against France Under-21s.
If I'm capable of that against them, then I'm sure I'm capable of doing that.''
Neilson feels McGhee is improving but warned that his ambitions might depend on him growing as well.
He is still a young player developing, he has still got quite a long way to go, but he is improving all the time,'' the former Hearts and Leicester right-back said.
If you had asked me last season: would he be ready for the SPL? Probably not. But this season he is.
His physicality is coming on, his game awareness, he is a bigger player in the group now."