WITH one swing of his left boot, Harry Cochrane announced himself to Scottish football in style aged just 16.

In December 2017, the highly-rated youngster rifled home his first goal for Hearts – becoming their youngest league scorer in the process – as they famously ended the 69-game unbeaten run of Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic.

Since that memorable day at Tynecastle, the now 18-year-old has gone on to play 32 times for the capital club but has set his sights on making memories in the black and white of Dunfermline.

Cochrane, along with team-mate Anthony McDonald, signed a season-long loan with Stevie Crawford’s side last Friday and made his debut as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s defeat at Arbroath.

A graduate of Kilmarnock’s Grange Academy – one of the SFA’s seven performance schools – Cochrane joined the Jambos from Rangers at youth team level before signing his first professional contract two years ago.

Despite his rapid rise, he was keen to play regular first-team football and, speaking to Press Sport, explained: “It’s been the whole pre-season that I’ve been looking to get out somewhere on loan and to come to a club as big as this is just brilliant for me.

“As soon as Craw (Stevie Crawford) phoned me, I was hopeful they could agree something and I could come. Thankfully, I’m here.

“He (Craig Levein, Hearts manager) has brought in a lot of central midfielders, and experienced central midfielders as well, players like Glenn Whelan, so I just didn’t see myself playing this year.

“I obviously made my debut at 16 for Hearts, and I did not expect that, and I think if I’d stayed with Rangers, that probably wouldn’t have happened, just based on the size of the club and the players they’ve got.

“Thankfully, when I got my chance at Hearts, there wasn’t many players in the squad – they were quite low on numbers – so I got my chance at 16.

“I never really played much last year, and I didn’t really see myself as a regular at Hearts this year, so it was important to me to get out on loan.

“I just thought that I can’t really stay here and play reserves all year because I’ve been playing reserves since I was maybe 15.

“I just really wanted to play first-team football and hopefully I’ll get the chance to do that here.”

Cochrane worked with Crawford during the Pars manager’s spell as a coach in Gorgie, and continued: “I think it was from when I was round about 14 that I knew Craw.

“He used to come and watch us training and he always used to talk to me as well.

“I know I can talk to him whenever I need. Sometimes with managers, it’s difficult like that because maybe players don’t want to go and talk to them if they don’t know them as well, but because I know Craw, it’s brilliant.

“I need to keep my head down and hopefully get a chance.”

In responding to the suggestion he’s grabbed a few memorable goals, he laughed: “One! It was quite a long time ago now so people are starting to forget about it!

“Hopefully I can score a few goals this season – I’ve not scored many.

“It might not happen but hopefully I can starting adding goals to my game.

“I think it’s something I definitely need to improve on.”