Hearts: Jason Holt has a taste for Europe

Holt was included in the travelling first-team party for pre-season trips to Italy and Germany recently, but the longest trip he has made for a competitive club fixture in his fledgling career was to the English Channel island of Guernsey. After the draw for the Europa League third qualifying round which was due to be made today, Hearts could contemplate travelling an even shorter distance to England or Ireland, but also face the prospect of journeying thousands of miles to play in Russia or its former states when part of the Soviet Union. Holt will look to gain further experience against continental opposition this weekend when the Jambos line up against Royal Antwerp in Sunday's friendly at Tynecastle, but the 18-year-old midfielder will look to add to his competitive European experience - by boarding the plane to the away leg of the maroons' Euro adventure either side of the end of this month. "If I was to travel with the squad, it would be a great experience, but we'll just have to wait and see," says Holt, a mainstay of the Hearts under-19 team and recent recipient of the award for SPL player of the season at that level. "We've been to a few competitions - we went to one in Guernsey," recalls Holt of his experience with the Hearts youth squad. "It was at the end of last season, we played two local teams and Norwich, and we won that tournament so it was good. I was pleased with the way I played - I did well." Holt retains the delicate frame of a typical fledgling footballer, but his strength in the tackle has been strongly emphasised during a handful of friendly appearances in the last three weeks. His robust style of play and impressive range of passing has drawn the attention of Jim Jefferies, who selected him for senior duty at Dundee United two months ago, on the final day of the campaign. Holt made his first-team debut alongside another fellow under-19 star, striker David Smith. The teenage pair emerged from the bench, while Jonathan Stewart, Colin Hamilton and Robert Ogleby - also products of the Riccarton youth academy - were also named as substitutes on a day when Hearts showcased a wealth of homegrown talent. "They went out there with a freedom and tried to play," said Jefferies of Holt and Smith. "It was great we had several of our under-19s, who have had a fantastic season, on the bench. The two of them will remember that day. They can use that as a positive to want more." A hungry Holt is far from sated after his run-out at Tannadice, and aims to build on his brief promotion to gain further opportunities to step up from the youth team. "To get the debut, I'm delighted with that," he said. "Then, to go away with the first team to Italy, then to Germany, it's obviously a big boost to me. "Obviously, it's a step up. You're playing against stronger men. Being 18, you just get on with it, get stuck in, and you just try and put yourself about. (Jim Jefferies] just said when you get on the ball, be confident, drive at players, and do what you're good at." His inaugural SPL start came in the same week as he netted his first goal for Scotland, the under-19 national team losing 3-2 to Denmark in mid-May. With five caps at that age group, Holt is growing accustomed to surrounding himself with players of top quality, and he has genuine admiration for those who he trains alongside on a regular basis. Others, such as Adrian Mrowiec and Ian Black, who have accompanied him in the Hearts midfield in warm-up games in recent weeks, have also helped develop his game. "It's great playing alongside these type of players," he said. "They're always encouraging you, and to know you've got them around you is a boost. "I'll hopefully keep in the plans with the gaffer around the first team. If not, I'll be happy to play 19s and try and still make an impression and push on. I've still got plenty of time, so I just have to try and impress the gaffer." Hearts will begin imminently to prepare for their Europa League double-header after learning the identity of their opponents in the third qualifying round. The Jambos will aim to negotiate four legs in total to reach the group stage of the tournament, but given the standard of clubs who will stand in their way, that would represent no mean feat. The experience alone of playing in such games, however, would be beneficial to players in future European campaigns. Holt's blossoming international career and participation in games against German outfits Union Berlin and Ludwigsfelder earlier this month should only serve to assist his ability to adapt to the contrasting style of play by continental opposition. Sunday's visit of Royal Antwerp will offer another chance for Holt to observe and combat the slick passing game favoured by central European sides. "When we went over to Germany, I didn't expect to play a lot of the time," admitted Holt. "But, from the time I had on the pitch, I saw it is a bit different, they've got a different style of play to Scottish football and under-19 football. They tried to move the ball a lot quicker and try to break teams down. I think that's what Antwerp will try to do as well." Sunday's friendly could bring Tynecastle debuts for a number of players, including Holt. The under-19 star will have a rather more modest ambition than many of his more senior fellow new faces that day – merely for the game to mark the beginning of his first complete season as a first-team player. They can use that as a positive to want more." A hungry Holt is far from sated after his run-out at Tannadice, and aims to build on his brief promotion to gain further opportunities to step up from the youth team. "To get the debut, I'm delighted with that," he said. "Then, to go away with the first team to Italy, then to Germany, it's obviously a big boost to me. "Obviously, it's a step up. You're playing against stronger men. Being 18, you just get on with it, get stuck in, and you just try and put yourself about. [Jim Jefferies] just said when you get on the ball, be confident, drive at players, and do what you're good at." His inaugural SPL start came in the same week as he netted his first goal for Scotland, the under-19 national team losing 3-2 to Denmark in mid-May. With five caps at that age group, Holt is growing accustomed to surrounding himself with players of top quality, and he has genuine admiration for those who he trains alongside on a regular basis. Others, such as Adrian Mrowiec and Ian Black, who have accompanied him in the Hearts midfield in warm-up games in recent weeks, have also helped develop his game. "It's great playing alongside these type of players," he said. "They're always encouraging you, and to know you've got them around you is a boost. "I'll hopefully keep in the plans with the gaffer around the first team. If not, I'll be happy to play 19s and try and still make an impression and push on. I've still got plenty of time, so I just have to try and impress the gaffer." Hearts will begin imminently to prepare for their Europa League double-header after learning the identity of their opponents in the third qualifying round. The Jambos will aim to negotiate four legs in total to reach the group stage of the tournament, but given the standard of clubs who will stand in their way, that would represent no mean feat. The experience alone of playing in such games, however, would be beneficial to players in future European campaigns. Holt's blossoming international career and participation in games against German outfits Union Berlin and Ludwigsfelder earlier this month should only serve to assist his ability to adapt to the contrasting style of play by continental opposition. Sunday's visit of Royal Antwerp will offer another chance for Holt to observe and combat the slick passing game favoured by central European sides. "When we went over to Germany, I didn't expect to play a lot of the time," admitted Holt. "But, from the time I had on the pitch, I saw it is a bit different, they've got a different style of play to Scottish football and under-19 football. They tried to move the ball a lot quicker and try to break teams down. I think that's what Antwerp will try to do as well." Sunday's friendly could bring Tynecastle debuts for a number of players, including Holt. The under-19 star will have a rather more modest ambition than many of his more senior fellow new faces that day - merely for the game to mark the beginning of his first complete season as a first-team player.