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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Hearts hand nine academy talents first pro deals as Joe Savage opens up on talented teens

Hearts have handed nine academy talents first pro deals at the club.

The group of talented youngsters are some of the brightest talents in the Tynecastle academy and have been rewarded. Zach Paris, Adam Forrester, Gregor Crookston, Kai Smutek, Kenzi Nair and Harvey Chisholm will step up to the professional ranks this summer - with Rocco Friel, Mackenzie Ross and Bobby McLuckie set to sign when they turn 16 at later points in the year.

The group of talented Hearts teens were honoured at a signing ceremony at the home of the Gorgie side with chief executive Andrew McKinlay and sporting director Joe Savage in attendance.

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Academy Director Frankie McAvoy told Hearts' official website: "I'm absolutely delighted that a number of our players have been given a chance to step into the full-time environment.

"Hopefully within that environment they can flourish and become proven players.

"Our aim, hopefully, is to get them ready for Robbie's first team. Murray and Kirky got a chance in the latter part of last season which was great to see. Now this group have a chance to push forward and thrive."

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Sporting Director Joe Savage added: "We want to be building our academy and producing players. With Frankie, Steven Naismith, John McLaughlan, and all the guys we have in the academy - we feel like we've got a coaching group that can really develop these players and push them into the first team environment.

"These players understand the demand we're setting on them and the need to get to that level. We can coach them to become the players we know they can become."

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