LEWIS O'DONNELL believes that moving on loan to Kelty Hearts has helped him improve his game and was thrilled to extend his stay with the club.

The 18-year-old midfielder arrived from Dundee United at the beginning of the season, initially until January, when the deal was extended until the end of the campaign.

O'Donnell, who was linked with English Premier League side Burnley, and English Football League Championship duo Norwich City and Watford, last month, has been a regular feature in the 'Maroon Machine' side throughout the season so far.

In a recent interview with Press Sport, he said he was "over the moon" to extend his loan spell at New Central Park, and explained: "Before this, I never had any first team games, so I think I've now played maybe over 20 now.

"Even from the beginning, when I first started playing with Kelty, to now, I feel like my game's improved. I can handle the ball a lot better in tight spaces, and I move the ball a lot quicker, less touches, because you don't have as much time on the ball in the men's game.

"I feel like I've adapted to that well and the gaffer's helped me with that, speaking to me through the games all the time, so I'm just delighted.

"He (player / manager Michael Tidser) has been at the highest level and he's done it all, so he's just working it through all the young boys that are here, because we have quite a few.

"It's all about experience as well and I'm absolutely loving playing under the gaffer, playing the way that we play.

"Having me, the gaffer, Reece (Lyon), Reuben McAllister who's came in, we can all handle the ball really well, and it's brilliant playing with each other because we can trust each other on the ball, take the ball in tight areas.

"We never change the way that we play. It's the same every week and I love playing the way that we play."

O'Donnell's contract with United is up in the summer and, although he is unsure what his future beyond then holds, he's hoping his stint at New Central Park will benefit his career moving forward.

"Obviously you want to go back and play with your parent club, and I've been at Dundee United since under-11s, so it would be great to play in the first team," he said.

"But, if the minutes are only limited, then you want to come to out and play games. especially senior games because, further on in your career, or if you're getting a move somewhere, the managers' have just got to look at how many first team games you've played.

"They're always asking how I'm doing (Dundee United). They've obviously got an eye on me as well, and the same with the other boys who are on loan. They're really good with you and I think they're just looking towards the future to try and get me as much experience as possible to then go back into their first team.

"My contract's up in the summer, so I'm not sure what's quite happening yet, but anywhere I can play first team football, at the highest level possible, that would be great."