ON-LOAN Kelty Hearts youngster Jack Milne has a bright future after impressing during his short stint with the club.

John Potter believes that the 20-year-old has "a real chance" to stake a claim with his parent side, Aberdeen, after describing his performances at New Central Park as "brilliant".

A product of the Dons' youth academy, Milne arrived at New Central Park in January on a temporary deal until the end of the season, and has gone on to play 10 games for the club so far.

The Aberdeen-born player, who signed a new contract with the Premiership club last summer that will keep him at Pittodrie until 2025, impressed at centre back, alongside veteran, Jason Thomson, in Saturday's scoreless derby draw at Dunfermline.

He moved back from the central midfield berth he had occupied in Kelty's previous outing, another 0-0 draw, at Falkirk, with Tam O'Ware out, and Potter has belief Milne can go on to push for a slot in the first team at his boyhood club.

"He's been brilliant since he came," the Kelty boss said.

"He's played a couple of different positions. We've not actually got the results since he's came in that we've been looking for but, in terms of him himself, he's been really, really good.

"He's got a great attitude. He's played midfield, he's played centre back, and I think he's got a real chance to go back to Aberdeen and do well."

Milne and his Kelty team-mates have five matches remaining in their season and, despite securing League One safety, Potter wants them to end strongly.

The promotion play-off places are out of reach, whilst they can't finish in the bottom two, but Potter said: "There's a good chance we're going to be where we're going to be, we know that, but it doesn't mean that we just let the season peter out.

"We've got games we've got to try and win. We've all got reasons to play, whether that's getting a new contract, getting a move, or trying to impress someone else. That's where we all are.

"We've got an opportunity to maybe play some young players as well, like Finlay Shearer, 17 years old, and came through our community club. He found it hard, really really tough (against Dunfermline, after coming on as a substitute). He looked like a young boy out there at times but, as a learning experience, it's brilliant.

"Hopefully we get a chance towards the end of the season to get a few more young ones in the team and on the pitch, and hopefully that bodes well for Kelty going forward."

Potter added that Nathan Austin, who was replaced by Shearer after 35 minutes at East End Park with injury, had dislocated a toe but hoped he would make a swift recovery.