ALFIE BAVIDGE believes has heralded his loan stint with Kelty Hearts as "brilliant" and believes it has helped improve his all-round game.

The Aberdeen forward is also targeting more goals before his spell at New Central Park comes to an end after recently taking his tally in maroon to double figures.

Bavidge, who celebrates his 18th birthday today (Thursday), scored his 10th goal for Kelty in their recent home win over Edinburgh City, and his form throughout the season has been rewarded with call-ups to the Scotland under-19 squad.

The most recent of those came last month when he travelled to Italy for UEFA Euro 2024 Elite Round qualifying encounters with the Italians, Georgia and Czech Republic, taking the number of caps he's won at that age group to 12.

With four games of Kelty's League One season to go, Bavidge is keen to add more goals, commenting: "I've been happy with it. I just think there's no point in being happy with 10 - I want to go and get more.

"Every game that we play now I'm going to be looking to try and get goals for the team and win the games.

"It (his loan spell) has been brilliant. I think I've got all the staff here to thank for playing me and letting me express myself every week, and also I've got my team-mates to thank as well for giving me the support, and passes for my goals!

"It's been excellent and I couldn't have gone to a better club. Again, I've got everyone here at the club to thank for playing me every week, because I think that's taken my game to another level.

"Just playing every week, it's been brilliant."

Although Scotland lost each of their Elite Round qualifying fixtures, Bavidge was pleased to make two starts and one substitute appearance, adding: "I think I played quite a few minutes in comparison to my other trips, but we're a young squad. I think we're mostly gearing up for next year.

"The results didn't really go our way, but we all knew that it was going to be a tough task, being that young, playing against good sides which are all older than us, so I think we'll have a right good go at it next year.

"You play against some top players so it's learning how you can get the better of them, and whether they're quicker than you, or stronger than you or bigger than you, you've got to work out a way of getting the better of them.

"That's the side that you take away from it."