Former Hearts skipper Steven Naismith has warned young players at the club they must put the hours in to make it in the game.
Naismith retired from playing last week and took up a new role as football development manager and he has told his youngsters they can't cruise to a first team place.
But he reckons the Hearts support should be excited by the talent coming through because they have 'more ability' than he did at the same age.
That's a huge compliment to them but Naismith reckons they must do what he did and put in hours that the senior pros aren't to overtake them in Robbie Neilson's first team.
He urged them to take advantage of the facilities available to them to go and develop further by doing extra work on the pitch and in the gym and not head home straight after training with the Tynecastle club.
He said: "I'm really enthusiastic about it. The biggest thing is that there are a lot of players here who have more ability than I had when I was 18, 19, 20.
"It's now just for them to believe it and do the hard work after it. Don't just train, have lunch, a wee gym session then up the road. It's about spending the extra hours here that all the other pros aren't doing. That's the bit that will make them better and give them a good career.
"In recent years these guys have been lost or maybe went out on loans, but they've not had as much attention as they've needed. That's in all aspects from technical, game management and mentally how to make it. The demands at this club are big because the expectations are there.
"It's about getting these guys ready. Even in my time here, there's been that many young players come through into the first team, in my opinion, when they've not been ready. Long term it's not good for the player or the club so we need to get players who, when they go into the first team, they make an impact.
"I love it here, the facilities are great, and the players have got a great opportunity. But there's a demand there and that's the biggest thing we need to get across.
"The fans are harsh but fair. They will back you to the hilt if they see that you're working hard and there's a progression and we've got to do that as a squad."
