Exclusive: Defender pens contract keeping him at Tynecastle until 2017.

Robbie Neilson has moved to secure one of the club’s top prospects by handing a new contract to Jordan McGhee.

The 18-year-old rising star was out of contract in the summer but has agreed a deal which will keep him at Tynecastle until the summer of 2017.

Yet another product of the Hearts Football Academy, Jordan has featured regularly for the Jambos this season and has scored twice as Hearts stormed clear at the top of the Championship.

The highly-rated Gorgie ace - who can play at right-back or centre-half - made his first-team debut at the age of 16 against St Mirren in May 2013.

He has also been a regular at U21 level with Scotland, having the honour of captaining his country against Switzerland in November.

Speaking to Hearts News after the teenager penned his two-and-a-half-year deal, head coach Robbie said: “Jordan is one of the top prospects in the Scottish game.

“It is good to get his future tied down and this gives him time to develop.

“He has already played a lot of games for Hearts and done well and he will continue to be part of the team.”

Robbie takes his league leaders to Ibrox on Friday night to take on Rangers, with Hearts 13 points clear of the second-placed Glasgow side.

Meanwhile, Hearts fans this morning snapped up the last few remaining tickets for the Govan clash, with over 2000 Jambos set to make the trip along the M8.