Mitchell scoops Reserves award
Demi Mitchell has pipped Manchester United Under-23s colleagues Kieran O'Hara and Ethan Hamilton to the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year trophy.
The 21-year-old was an integral member of Ricky Sbragia's side for the first part of the campaign, scoring a free-kick in the opening-day win at Leicester City.
In all, he contributed four goals from full-back and was an attacking outlet down the flank, showing the pace and flair that had earned him a senior debut against Crystal Palace in the final game of the previous season.
The impressive form helped alert Hearts and a loan move was arranged in January 2018, with Mitchell quickly making his mark at Tynecastle and scoring an absolute cracker against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup.
Unfortunately, a knee injury curtailed his progress but he has since recovered and is back in Edinburgh.
Promising goalkeeper O'Hara and energetic midfielder Hamilton were also on the shortlist selected by Sbragia.
HOW DEMI REACTED...
“Yeah I’ve been here since I was a kid so to win an award Manchester United means a lot so I drove down (from Scotland).
“When you go on loan you grow up as a person, you grow as a man, you learn a lot and I think that going there for six month I’ve learnt a lot, playing in men’s football and playing for points now. You know how much it means to the staff and all the players around you so it’s important.
“To be honest I think it (the pre-season tour) was a great experience but I was a bit overwhelmed at the time and it was a great experience for me and I learnt a lot but playing on loan at Hearts more. I’ve learnt more and I think a lot I’m just growing as a person."