Jamie was such a cocky kid we had to boot him in training to bring him back to earth
SMASH HIT WALKER TIPPED FOR THE TOP SAYS FORMER HEARTS TEAM-MATE
WHEN Jamie Walker first strode into Hearts’ dressing room as a teenager he was so cocky the senior players were determined to kick lumps out of him.
The midfielder came through that test with his arrogance intact and Ryan Stevenson, one of the older heads who put the boot in, claims that will stand him in good stead if his move to Rangers goes through.
Stevenson, who has been coaching out-ofcontract players ahead of PFA Scotland’s trial match for scouts at Broadwood tomorrow, reckons Walker will have no problems when it comes to living in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.
The 23-year-old notched 15 goals for the Jambos last season and that’s prompted Ibrox boss Pedro Caixinha to slap in two failed bids. And Stevenson believes there will be a third, claiming that weakening their rivals is a wise move by the Portuguese.
Stevenson said: “Jamie has had a superb season. He was Hearts’ top player last year.
“Rangers took one of the best players from Aberdeen in Ryan Jack so it’s no surprise they’re trying to sign Jamie as well.
“He made the decision not to sign the contract that was offered to him. He’s a grown man and he’ll know what is best for his family.”
Even so Stevenson admits first impressions of Walker weren’t quite so positive.
He said: “He had a bit about him. We went into administration and there were a couple of boys who came in with a bit of swagger.
“Jamie was one of them – he’d only been in the dressing room for a few days and he had his feet beneath the table.
“A few older boys thought, ‘We’ll see how he goes and we’ll give him a few dunts in training’.
“Jamie’s a great lad. I still keep in contact with him. He’s one of those boys who undoubtedly had ability but you wondered if he would work hard enough. He’s certainly done that.
“His quality speaks for itself and he gets goals. If you’re scoring 15-plus each season then you’re going to be worth a lot of money.
“Wherever he goes, whether it’s Rangers or down south, I’m sure he can kick on again.
“But the best thing for those kids was coming in at Hearts when the club was in the situation that it was in at the time. Jamie, Callum Paterson and Sam Nicholson – would they have got the opportunity if Hearts hadn’t gone into administration?”
Stevenson claims Walker’s self-belief will help him deal with the pressures of playing at Ibrox and being the centre of attention.
He said: “Being the boy he is he enjoys that kind of thing. At Rangers you’ve got to enjoy that so I don’t see it fazing him.
“He has played at Ibrox before but Rangers are obviously a massive club. However, knowing the way Jamie is he’ll use that as a positive not a negative.
“Jamie will improve any team and if he’s playing with better players he’ll improve as well. Look at Lee Wallace – he went to Ibrox and totally kicked on.
“Lee was a great player for us at Hearts but look at him now – he has gone on to the next level.
“Midfielders who score are as rare as hen’s teeth. These guys are worth their weight in gold.
“When Jamie first started off you thought he could either go one way or another but credit to him, he worked ever so hard on his game. It’s not easy to get double figures in goals but he’s done it.”
Stevenson also admires the guts Walker, whose contract expires next summer, has shown in rejecting a new Jambos deal.
He added: “Probably the biggest factor for him was his wee boy being born – that’s grounded him.
“As much as he has a head full of broken bottles at times, he’s a sensible enough guy.
“And it does take balls not to just jump at the first contract offer and say, ‘I’m not signing that’. Because you could then have a bad six months and it goes the other way.
“He believed in his own ability to get something else, maybe something better.
“I don’t really know what his overall plan is but if Rangers come chapping at the door it’s hard to turn them down.”